Outdoor Play in Terms Preschool and Kindergarten Programs - Literature review Example

Outdoor play should not be abolished from daycare, preschool and kindergarten programs Outplay should not be abolished from daycare, preschool and kindergarten programs It imports to motivate children to actively participate in outdoor sports, because sport helps them to imbibe good qualities, such as leadership, and improve their body fitness levels. This important part of a child’s growth and development is also recognized in the articles of the United Nations Convention on the rights of a child. At recent times, children have increasingly taken into indoor games, such as video and computer games. During their spare time, the children prefer to sit and play computer games. As a result, they do not involve themselves in outdoor games, and this makes them unfit and unhealthy physically. To avoid this, parents should encourage their children to take part in outdoor games and activities. Outplay in daycare, preschools and kindergarten centers should not be abolished because of the numerous benefits that it confers to young children. They help children participate in physical activities, which are necessary for proper development of their minds and fitness of their bodies (Sheridan & Samuelsson, 2001). Clinical psychologists emphasize that children should actively participate in outdoor games, since this participation enhances their cognitive development. Daycare, preschool and kindergarten are centers that train young children within the age of three years, which are the early years that require effective settings for proper development. As Sheridan & Samuelsson (2001) note, many scholars observe that outplay games are essential and important to young children. It helps learners, who in this case are the young children, to build the confidence, the knowledge and many skills that will later help them as they grow up. Reasons that support this argument are discussed below. Play, according to Debra & Sandra (2003), can be said to be that activity where healthy and young children participate with so much fun and enthusiasm. Children find playing games to be much fun and their playing is without dreading or fearing the consequences of the games. Research has shown that teachers view play and games that children like as activities that have a positive value to the player and are self-motivated, such that children are not forced to play but play willingly. Therefore, teachers find games that favor children, rather than the games that impose adult values, so that they do not change the much intended nature of play. According to Sandberg (2001), children games should possess some characteristics so that they become fun and children enjoy them. Games played by young children should be involving, light, and brisk ones, for example, where children are expected to act as butterflies, so that there are many movements and children do not get bored. The games also employ a piece or pieces of equipment like play blocks. Fun and absence of seriousness in playing the games by the children should be seen like playing that involves singing a silly song. Benefits of outdoor games to children As stated above, outdoor games should not be abolished from pre-schools because of their benefits to children. In fact, childcare specialists can use specific games to improve specific abilities in children, or imbue specific physical benefits. The following are the benefits that accrue to children who participate in outdoor sports. Physical growth and development in children is the benefit of these sports for children because these games involve the body physically. They make children active and reduce the levels of laziness. They help children in keeping fit so that they stay healthy with the body exercise that they get involved in. This, therefore, reduces and prevents many disorders, for example, cases of obesity in children. They also assist in reducing the stress levels in children, related to class work and studies, hence, they have the experience of the outside environment which is free and fresh, out of the ordinary class, indoors environment (Goelman (2004). Outdoor sports help reduce computer games obsession in children. Research has shown that with the new technology, children prefer to stay indoors and play computer games or watch movies and television. In the long run, this obsession can lead to addiction in the children, so that they sit long hours with the electronics at the expense of other activities. This obsession can be curbed by encouraging children to get involved in the outdoor sports (Sciarra, Dorsey & Lynch, 2010). Unrealized talents and skills in children are realized and well cultivated through outdoor sports. This includes talents like athletes, football, and hockey among many others. There are children who do very well in sports as compared to class work. Such children are encouraged to take up sports so that they can assist in nurturing their talents. According to Wellhousen (2002), social skills, such as leadership, can also be discovered in children during the activities of outdoor games. Some children have the spirit of team work, hence, they may help the others who are poor at it, to improve their team work spirit. Confidence levels of children are improved through these sports, especially where a child is required to lead a team or group. They also help teach such things as following the instructions, for example, in the obstacle game. Outdoor sports bring children together, and help them to learn from each other better and improve their ways of socializing. According to Wellhousen (2002), play is common in the childhood when the knowledge of communication is growing with time and expanding. Children help each other to learn more and understand more of the physical and social worlds. This means that when they play together, they tend to use their past experience from the things they have done or seen others do to create their games. When they are playing, they use language to communicate amongst themselves and different emotions to respond to the plays. The integration of all these characters helps the children to learn more from each other, because they are different from each other. Outdoor sports that are intense, like hiking and walking, help in building endurance in children. This is because the children can continue to run or walk even after having exercised for so long. They learn not to give up so quickly and to be enduring and persistent. They also develop their muscles and get vitamin D from the sun and reduce the body fat (Wellhousen, 2002). Examples of children outdoor games There are various outdoor games that can be played by children in daycare centers, which are involving and fun for them. For effective results, teachers should ensure that they change games, not playing the same old games, as it can be tiring. Some of these games are discussed below in details. Big Foot Relay is one of the many games. Children come with two shoe-boxes each, then they cut a slit in the top of each of the boxes, then they have their feet slip in the slits of the boxes. The children then race with their feet inside the boxes. One more title is Ball Game. Here, children form a circle, and then each child is given a rubber ball and is given categories. One child bounces the ball to another in the same circle (Debra & Sandra, 2003). Blind Walk is another game. Debra & Sandra (2003) suggest that the teacher creates an obstacle path in the play ground, blindfolds the children and then the children are aligned in a good path. They walk in the path without having to look down and the time of each child is noted down. Another outdoor game is Pick Pocket Tag, where a string of cloth is put in each child’s pocket. The children try to grab strip of the other child without their own strip being taken. The child who has the most strips wins the game. This makes the children run around with each other, hence, remain active. Another example of commonly played outdoor game is Killing The Cockroach. In this game, as Debra & Sandra (2003) note, the children are divided into two teams. Then they are lined up in front of each other, and an object is placed on the first line. The children are required to kick the object across the finish line to earn points for the team. Other examples include Blind Snake’s Game, Drag The Body Game, birthday games that are played in parties to make them enjoyable and memorable too. All the above games and many others are fun for children, and teachers try as much as possible to involve all the children. They bring out the above benefits to the children, therefore, should be encouraged more. Conclusion In sum, the benefits accrued in games are numerous. Ranging from psychological benefits, such as enhancing confidence and leadership skills, to physiological and physical benefits, the importance of games cannot be overstated. There are numerous games that children can be engaged in. Since children may have limited opportunities to play, especially if they are into video game and computer games, providing opportunities for physical activity in daycares, kindergartens and pre-schools is important. Therefore, games should not be abolished in daycares, kindergartens and pre-schools. References Debra, W., & Sandra, F. (2003). Great Big Book of Childrens Games: Over 450 Indoor & Outdoor Games for Kids (Ages 3-12). New York: McGraw-Hill. Goelman, H. (2004). Childrens play in child care settings. Albany, NY: State Univ. of New York Press. Sandberg, A. (2001). Play Memories from Childhood to Adulthood. Early Child Development and Care 167(1) 13-25. Sciarra, D. J., Dorsey, A. G., & Lynch, E. M. (2010). Developing and administering a child care and education program. Australia; Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Sheridan, S., & Samuelsson, I. P. (2001). Children’s Conceptions of Participation and Influence in Pre-school: a perspective on pedagogical quality. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood. 2(2): 169-194. Wellhousen, K. (2002). Outdoor play, every day: Innovative play concepts for early childhood. Albany, NY: Delmar/Thomson Learning. Read More