As the weather warms, children and staff will be venturing outside as often as possible.  Outside play has often been seen as time for the children to burn off energy and time for the staff to socialize.  However, outside time should be a valuable learning experience for everyone.  

Learning does not end when they walk outside…….. but rather a stepping stone to stimulate the children’s natural curiosity.

Being outside helps children grow and develop - physically, socially, and emotionally.  Jump rope rhymes are an excellent way to develop language skills as well as a great physical activity.  The physical activity may also help them avoid childhood obesity while enjoying the great outdoors.

Children learn through exploration, discovery and the power of their imagination while noting the different types of trees or animals, and a chance to talk about science - for instance, how plants grow with sun and water. Kids love to be outdoors this time of year.  Here are a few other ways to set up an outdoor classroom:

• Art activities can be expanded when done outdoors and cleaning up is easier
• A reading corner can be under a shady tree or bush
• Meals and snacks can be picnics
• There are many opportunities to explore and observe nature outdoors. Children can watch bugs, birds, animals, and see how plants grow. They can look for changes in trees and bushes from spring to summer to fall
• There's more space for circle games and marching bands
• Music activities can be done outdoors
• Quiet times can include looking at the clouds or birds flying overhead
• Sand boxes are great for digging, pouring, and imaginary play with cars, trucks, and other small toys.

The best outside time is well planned….. just like the rest of your day. 

Aggression and hostility are the fight responses in the fight or flight reaction to stress.  Hostility is characterized by unfriendliness or opposition and can ultimately lead to aggression, whereby a child attempts to do damage to a person or thing.  The assault may be physical or verbal.  A child’s rude behavior, sarcasm, or silence can be exasperating or even frightening to a parent. 

There is an urge to set the child straight with a slap, shaking, or command to ‘snap out of it’.  Actually, confrontation is the worst possible alternative.  Generally, children want either to be left alone or to be allowed to blow up.  If your child does not accept the invitation to talk it out, try to stay out of the way until the emotional storm has subsided.

Although most behavior is learned, understanding the temperamental differences among children can help to explain why some children are more prone to aggression than others.  In addition, some adults directly sanction aggressive behavior when they advise children to ‘stand up for themselves and don’t take anything from anybody’.

In some cases children engage in aggressive acts because they crave attention some much that they will settle for any kind they can get – even if it is negative. Obviously, these children need more attention for desirable behavior and minimal attention for the undesirable. 

Here are a few suggestions:

• Observe the aggressive behavior and try to determine the situational triggers.
• Communicate to the child clearly and specifically which behaviors are not allowed and what the consequences of such behavior will be.
• Ignore attention-getting ploys.
• Provide a positive example by controlling your own aggression.
• Following an act of aggression, discuss the matter with your child.  Encourage the child to generate alternative, satisfying approaches to aggression. 
• Check out radKIDS for more ideas