Should children go outside everyday to play? Yes, except during inclement weather conditions.
Outside activities should be a true extension of the indoor classroom. The playground is not a place for chairs for the teachers. It is also not the time for children go on the swings and climber to entertain themselves.
I have observed teachers in the classroom interacting in a developmentally appropriate fashion. They speak with the children in an appropriate manner, redirect them when necessary, they listen to their individual needs and desires, and respond accordingly. When the teachers are outside on the playground with the children they should be interacting with the children in the same developmentally appropriate fashion as they would inside the classroom.
There should be activities for the children to engage in to allow for exploration and gross motor development to name a few. Outdoor time is in no way a rest period for the staff and a free for all for the children.
Often times teachers on the playground with the children are less than responsive to the children’s needs. They are often standing on the playground talking with other teachers, sitting on the side of the playground observing the children from a far, or looking at their cell phones. This type of interaction is not conducive with the outdoor play area being an extension of the indoor classroom for children.
Numerous accidents have occurred outside on the playground due to a lack of supervision, unsafe, and inappropriate equipment. The outdoor equipment should be checked daily to ensure that everything is safe for the children. This will also reduce the number of accidents that occur due to broken and unsafe equipment.
Children could have an accident with caregivers interacting with them on the playground but these accidents can be explained to the parents. Can the same be said for accidents when the caregivers are talking to each other, distracted by their cell phones, or sitting away from the children? I think not. The last thing a parent want to hear from a teacher is that they have no idea how their child was injured. This is especially true for parents of young children that cannot articulate what happened.
Many administrators believe that their outdoor areas are not complete without a large play structure for the children as well as parents that want to see a large climbing structure on the playground. Whereas, this may be the case, every outside play area should be a true extension of the classroom. The teachers at the center should be able to articulate to the administrators and parents what the overall goal of the outdoor play area is and why it is developmentally appropriate for the children to have an extension of the classroom outside on the playground.
What are the benefits of going outside daily? Children have the opportunity to explore elements that are not available within the classroom.