Outside Time for Megan

I've been working hard at having Megan spend time outside every day.  It isn't always possible.  (Today she was inside all day because of 60 mile per hour wind gusts in a massive wind storm.)  When I take her outside, she doesn't want to come inside.  She could spend hours outside playing and exploring.

I know this is a good thing.  With the cooler weather coming, I know that her outside time will be limited quite a bit for the next few months.  I am making plans to take her outside anyway, despite cold and snow.  I feel that, after some of the reading I have done lately, that both Laura and Megan will benefit immensely from being out of the house during the day... even if bundled in heavy coats, hats, scarfs, and gloves. 

I read an article recently that talked about how children aren't as intelligent as they used to be because children aren't outside playing .  Their imaginations aren't as strong.  They don't have any appreciation of nature... and it is affecting their science learning in later years.  Most kids are spending way too much time watching TV and playing video games.  A part of me can understand because I know how addicted my kids have gotten at times to television.  I also know that, when I was a child, it wasn't acceptable to sit indoors all day.  We were told to go out and play. 

When Megan goes outside, she will run around briefly.  Then she'll explore and play with anything she can.  She plays with shovels in the dirt in my garden. She plays with the leaves that have fallen to the ground.  She plays with the rocks and the sticks.  She plays with the gravel and little buckets.  She is learning the whole time, but she just thinks she is having fun.  I don't even need to take her to the park and spend hours pushing her on the swing.  The child that, in the house, gets bored and gets into trouble, keeps herself occupied just fine outside.

She jumps, she runs, she explores, she laughs.  That night, she sleeps well.  I truly believe the best preschool for a three year old is just playing, outside if possible, and some good books to read to her.  For Christmas, my daughter isn't going to get a bunch of stuff she doesn't need.  I'm more focused on things she can play with to expand her imagination.