Children Are The Greatest Gift From God!

Benefits of Outdoor Play premier christian academy northlake

Benefits of Outdoor Play

In a world dominated by screens, it’s now more important than ever to get your toddler, preschooler, and school-age child outdoors. From soaking in the sun’s rays that give kids vitamin D to breathing in fresh air, the outdoors should be a critical part of children’s development.

Here at Premier Christian Academy in Northlake and Murphy, we incorporate outdoor play in all aspects of our learning. We understand the importance of nature, and whether your child is studying math, science, or art, we integrate the outdoors as much as possible. As a Christian school, we use the Abeka curriculum to give children a solid foundation in their faith, as well as to instill the important foundations of learning. Below, we’ll take a look at the benefits of outdoor play. Contact our early learning center to get started today!

BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR PLAY

Exercise

Americans are facing an epidemic of childhood obesity. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 children and adolescents are considered obese in the United States. That is a very large percentage. By emphasizing outdoor play here at Premier Christian Academy in Northlake and Murphy, we can help kids get the exercise they need to not only keep weight off, but to also help their bones and muscles grow strong and healthy.

Help Learn Social Skills

When children are outdoors, they tend to get together, create, and play all sorts of games. This leads to a development in social skills, as kids have to learn how to compromise with others and get along with other kids. Playing outdoors with other kids is also a time that many small children develop friendships and learn how to treat others. This helps to develop cognitive function as well.

Appreciate Nature

When kids go outside to play, they get to be up close and personal with nature. From a walk in the woods to digging up soil, fishing in a nearby lake, or watching animals in their natural environment, young children gain an appreciation of the animal world, how they survive, and they realize that the world is much bigger than they are. Nature offers perspective and an understanding of life and death in a way that toddlers and preschoolers can understand. This will help them later on in life deal with the larger adult issues they will face.

Improves Motor Skills

Motor skills, such as grasping, running, walking, and catching, as well as coordination, balance, and agility, are developed over time with practice. It’s similar to muscle memory, except in younger kids, they are developing the particular muscles in order to perform the activity well and without thought. When children go outside to play, they have the opportunity to climb trees, play on swing sets, jump, hope, skip rope, and everything in-between. Playing catch, baseball, kickball, and basketball are great activities to develop these all-important life skills.

CHOOSE PREMIER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY TODAY

Premier Christian Academy is a Christian school that offers infant, toddler, preschool, pre-kindergarten, and before and after school care, as well as extracurricular classes. Our mission is to help build a solid educational foundation for your children as they embark upon their educational journey, as well as help with God-centered principles, values, and teachings. We strive to create a fun learning environment with lots of opportunities for outdoor play. We offer art and computer classes to enrich your child’s learning.

If you are interested in learning more about our early childhood education program that uses the Abeka curriculum, give us a call today. We have a location in Northlake and Murphy to better serve you. Begin today!

Infant Program

(6 weeks to 12 months)

Toddler program

(1 to 2 ½ years of age)

PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

(3 years of age)

Pre-kindergarten program

(4 years of age)

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL

(5 TO 12 years of age)

EXTRACURRICULAR CLASSES