Natural Playground
Research has found the following benefits of natural playgrounds:
- Children with views of and contact with nature score higher on tests of concentration and self-discipline.
- Play within a natural environment is more creative and imaginative which fosters language development.
- Exposure to nature improves children’s cognitive development by improving awareness, reasoning and observation skills.
- Play in outdoor environments are important to children’s development of independence and autonomy.
- Natural environments stimulate social interaction between children.
Natural learning experiences that are fostered on the Field of Dreams playground:
Infants
- Experience daily weather/climate changes
- Explore various textures- grass, mulch, flowers, etc.
- Further development of gross motor skills
- Stimulation of all senses
Toddler
- Opportunities to develop coordination- hand-eye, gross motor
- Natural setting to develop whole child; social, emotional, physical and cognitive
- Life skills for caring for plants and animal life
- Decision making skills
- Expressing themselves creatively
- Exploring water/dirt/sand/grass and its characteristics
Preschool
- Life experience raising plants/crops
- Teamwork and problem solving skills
- Continued growth of motor skills through play and real life experiences
- Heightened observation and documentation skills of changes within nature
- Creative expression through dramatic play
- Cause and effect skills
- Respect for all creatures in nature
The benefits listed above are just a few of the skills your children are developing on a daily basis here at Field of Dreams. Your children are more intellectually engaged in a natural playground setting where they are the ones creating their own play and learning opportunities, as opposed to a large climbing structure that is designed to only foster gross motor skills.
We have had several teachers attend conferences specifically focusing on creating natural playgrounds for children, and they have provided a great amount of input and ideas that we have implemented on our playgrounds. They have visited natural playgrounds and brought back wonderful ideas that we are continuously working on to add to our playgrounds.