Last Friday I gave a presentation at the SOAR conference sharing the importance of nature and outdoor time for kids. I feel so passionately about this issue that I am not sure what my next activism piece will be; however, I definitely want to share two great links.
One is an article is on the importance of dirt, even in our diet.
The second article is on what is happening to recess time right in Seattle. This news link strikes me as particularly relevant because I am passionate about outdoor play for children. This passion was sparked after one of the high poverty elementary schools I worked at canceled afternoon recess. Then I went to a wealthier school across town and the kids had so much more outdoor time.
It begs looking at: what makes successful recess? What kinds of play is promoted? And is there a greenspace / or natural area for children to play in? According to so much research outside time, access to green space, and physical activity promotes learning. We have to stop looking at recess as just a "break" - it is an important part of the school day and for many kids it is what keeps them excited about school. The goal needs to be: how do we make recess better ?
No comments:
Post a Comment