One reason Montessori
preschool kids like to play outside in Autumn is that the weather has cooled off a little but the cold of winter is still far away. Encourage your children to spend time exploring their world, and offer them
outdoor activities that will help them learn and develop.
Helping in the Yard
Preschool children are old enough to be a big help with the Fall yard work. You can even provide your tykes with child-sized rakes and shovels to give them the incentive to be like the grownups. Little tasks like picking up fallen branches or pine cones make a big difference in how your child perceives his place in your world. Your child begins to develop practical skills which is part of the
Montessori method.
Swinging Scarecrow
An old set of clothes and leaves can be turned into a scarecrow fairly easily. If you throw a rope over a tree branch and attach it to a fallen branch running down the scarecrow’s spine you can hang the straw man up so that he will sway in the breeze. Scarecrows can be a lot of fun even if they don’t talk much.
Doing Deeds
During the Thanksgiving season, it is a good idea to teach your children about gratitude and being nice to others. One way you can do this is to suggest good deeds your preschooler can do for others and watch him glow when that warm feeling that comes from helping others is shining from his face.
Dive Into Leaves
A big
pile of leaves is an adventure in itself. Jumping into the pile, tunneling through to the other side, and generally scattering leaves everywhere is an age-old way to entertain children. This activity is also good for muscle development and hand-eye coordination. Adults are invited to play as well because everyone needs to escape into a pile of leaves now and then.
It is beneficial for parents and children alike to spend time together doing outdoor activities. Children look up to their parents and doing activities as a team gives them a sense of inclusion that is often missing in parent-child interactions.
