Draper Preschools
| The Importance of Outdoor Play at Preschool Too many educators, politicians, and parents in Draper and throughout Utah believe outdoor play takes time away from academic activities. As a result recess and physical education in many schools is limited or totally eliminated. Further, programs that do include outdoor play often focus too much on learning cognitive and academic skills, rather than encouraging needed physical pursuits and social interactions. This comprehensive article explores the reasons outdoor play is crucial for effective preschool programs in Draper and other Utah communities. From Johnson, Christie & Wardle; Play, Development and Early Education, published by Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA. Copyright (c) 2005 by Pearson Education. Reprinted by permission of the publisher. Importance of Outdoor Play PDF |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| In the Ecologist (October, 2005) Edward Gill's article,"If You Go Down to the Woods," makes a case for the importance of restoring outdoor play for children. In part, he observed... "...children are disappearing from the outdoors at a rate that would make them the top of any conservationist's list of endangered species if they were any other member of the animal kingdom. So does it matter that kids aren't playing outside as much these days?" You bet it does! This article expresses why outdoor play at preschool should be a priority for parents in Draper and throughout Utah. Children Outdoors: Endangered Species PDF |
| Children in the Outdoors: The Endangered Species |
| Choosing A Preschool in Utah |
An article from Education.com summarizing standards of the NAEYC, National Association for the Education of Young Children to help parents identify high-quality early education programs for their preschool age children in Salt Lake County. Guidelines For Choosing A High-Quality Preschool PDF |
| The outdoors is the very best place for preschoolers to practice and master emerging physical skills. It is in the outdoors that children can fully and freely experience motor skills like running, leaping, and jumping. This article by Rae Pica in EarlyChildhood.com expresses the benefits of outdoor play in a preschool setting. Link To The Importance of Outdoor Play |
| Importance of Preschool Playgrounds |
| Outdoor Play at Preschool: Experts Say it's Crucial! |
| 3-5 year olds develop more crucial life-skills and wisdom during 30 minutes on a playground with other children that they do working on classroom academics. The accelerated learning industry is trying to convince parents that toddlers and preschoolers should sit at tables and drill on phonics or be plunked in front of TVs, computers and computer toys in a sprint toward early reading. The result is an epidemic of childhood obesity and depression. Learning, literacy and healthy lifestyle is not a sprint-race; it's a distance event. Vigorous outdoor play needs to be a daily element of your child's early education. Tune out the advertising. Listen to the advice of the experts.... |
| Elements of a Good Preschool Playground |
| Preschool outdoor playground equipment should have a mixture of abstract and realistic play events, along with components and loose parts that encourage dramatic play. Modular as on top, Preschool playgrounds should include unique features around which children can base their play. When all of these factors are taken into consideration, outdoor play environments that encourage and support dramatic play can be created. Promoting dramatic play in outdoor preschool environments will have lasting positive effects on Draper children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Link to Preschool Playgrounds / Dramatic Play Preschool Playgrounds / Dramatic Play PDF |
| Advertisement |
| Newcastle Preschool |
