Thoughts on Creek Play

A few thoughts on why we go down to the creek to play and why it is so important...

Playing by the creek is an important outdoor preschool experience. It is a super fun place and offers the children a range of opportunities to build their skills.

The creek area is full of science experiments just waiting to be discovered. Will this item sink or float? Will the water carry it away? What happens when we put sticks and rocks across the water? Will the bridge we build hold us? Children are intuitively curious in their play and the elements in the creek area make exploration and experimentation a part of the play.

It is challenging place to play. There are steep hills and slippery spots. The children get stuck in the mud, wade through water and dig for rocks. There is a lot of gross motor movement going on which is very important for their development.

The children get to make choices about how they are going to play. It is a very open ended area with unlimited possibilities. Preschoolers love to be in charge of their play.

The children are very social in this type of area. They share discoveries and problem solve. They take turns and negotiate. They also have the opportunity to move away from the group and enjoy quiet time alone.

There is risky play involved. Risky play builds confidence and emotional resilience. Children make choices and then manage their fear and stress. They feel great when they succeed and when they don't they learn persistence and to deal with consequences (ie. wet pants).

This type of play area gives the children a sense of adventure. It feels very freeing to be in the trees and stand in the running water. I hope this sense of adventure stays with them long after preschool is done.