Outdoor Play: It’s Essential for Growth and Development

by Christine Mitchell | Sep 25, 2018 | Education

For preschool age children, the outdoors is the best place to work on their physical skills. Jumping, running, riding bikes and balancing on walking cups help improve large motor skills. It is also a perfect time for practicing ball-handling skills like throwing and catching to master hand eye coordination. The children work on their manipulative skills while using different objects in the sandbox such as pushing dump trucks and pouring sand into sifters.
While playing outside cognitive and social/emotional areas are developing as well. Children express themselves and learn about the world while pretending and using their imagination with friends. They are in control and feeling safe. This is important for their self-esteem, decision-making, and organizational skills. Inventing rules for games promotes an understanding of why rules are necessary. As children play and have fun they are learning to communicate effectively and solve conflicts. What’s great about outdoor play, you can be loud, get all the energy out of your body and when you come back inside you can focus on the task at hand while in a classroom setting.
Studies show that as many as half of American children are not getting enough physical exercise and that risk factors like hypertension and arteriosclerosis are showing up at age five! While children play outdoors they burn more calories which helps prevent obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Being outside is also important because sunlight and fresh air stimulates brain activity, improves our immune system and makes us feel happier.
Creative Years offers large, open space play yards for children ages 10 weeks to 6 years old with grass areas to run, large climbing equipment, bikes and sandboxes with a variety of toys to choose from. Please visit us at www.creativeyears.com or www.facebook.com/creativeyears.

[bsa_pro_ad_space id=3]

ADVERTISE WITH US

CLICK HERE

Keeping Santa Clarita Flowing Strong This Spring – All In Sanitation

by Santa Clarita Magazine | May 1, 2026 | Community

As spring arrives and activity ramps up across Santa Clarita, the importance of reliable sanitation becomes more evident than ever. Behind the scenes, All In Sanitation plays a critical role in keeping homes, businesses and public spaces running smoothly. From...

Thompson Realty Advisors – Every Home Tells A Story And Often, It Marks The Beginning Of A New Chapter

by Di Thompson | May 1, 2026 | Community

I recently had the privilege of helping out-of-area clients prepare their Santa Clarita home for sale during a major life transition. With them unable to be local, I stepped in to manage every detail, creating a seamless and stress-free experience from start to...

Five Years Makes A Difference – Assistance League

by Jolee Owens | May 1, 2026 | Community

Did you know for over 30 years, Assistance League® of Santa Clarita has given back over five million dollars to the Santa Clarita Valley? As an all-volunteer, nonprofit business, the Assistance League Resale Store has become the organization’s primary...