And the best learning environment:
(You were getting the best parts of your education)
Walking home from school, throwing your bag on the floor, and playing outside until the street lights came on.
↑ Those were the best days. ↑
Pirates taught you problem-solving and negotiation.
Climbing a tree taught you resilience, balance, coordination.
Playing House taught collaboration.
Play is serious work. It’s where you learn all the tools to be successful in life.
(Research shows play provides the nutrition to develop a healthy brain and body)
Bonus
Active play is associated with less sadness, anxiety, and fearfulness
And I know – firsthand – the power of play
Rev Up Recess I wanted to share these great videos with y’all!! The sweetest part of this was hearing Jaxon sort of talking to himself saying, “I’m doing my best… I’m doing my best!!” It was amazing when I saw his confidence transform in a matter of 15-20 minutes from unsure to absolutely confident!!! Thank you for giving me the confidence as a momma to just let him play.
-Mitzi Delgado
Hi, I’m Olivia. Mom of 4. Physical Therapist and Play Ambassador.
Lover of functional, cute shoes.
When my son was 6-months-old, I started him in mommy and me swim lessons. By 9 months, he was screaming every session. I was encouraged to “just be consistent” in bringing him. I did for the next year! At two-years-old he laid on the garage floor and refused to load up to go swimming. I was stumped. This was supposed to be fun.
I was just trying to do all the “right, mom things.”
We went through similar situations with other organized sports and music classes he attended. Fun activities quickly became grounds for power struggles and meltdowns.
Then there was school, my son attended a traditional academic preschool, where he was well loved. Yet, my son started to say he wasn’t that smart, and at home he was refusing to count or do any activities with pencils. There were tears every.single.day at drop off.
Uncovering that formal literacy training shouldn’t start until age 7
blew my mom brain wide open.
We transitioned to a nature-based preschool where he spent 50% of his day outside and play took a forefront to his day. After a few months, my son was eager to count while he played, he was drawing letters in the dirt with sticks, and finding pure joy in learning.
After outdoor activities through nature hour program
“84% of children felt that they were capable of doing new things when they tried”
-Wildlife Trusts
Whether you’re a principal invested in the joy of learning or a parent wanting invest in the health of your kid…
It’s time to give playback.
I get it…there’s a risk and when it comes to our babies we would prefer a helmet and a referee
BUT
Free Play is vital
…and it is slipping away
(the average kid spending only 4-7 minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play)
Children learn best through play. With focus on building connections, providing developmentally appropriate expectations, and lightening the reins gives kids the time, space and permission to be kids.
Join me in bringing play back to schools.
Rev Up Recess resonates with where we are right now in my life with my child.
We are trying to figure out what works best for her and what her things are. It’s so easy to hand her a phone or a screen and realizing and understanding that is really not what’s best for her that she needs to be playing outdoors. I have gained more knowledge about how important play is and how I need to relax. Really, there are more attitude changes for me than really any specific changes for her.
-Charisa Parker
Children who learn through play process concepts at a deeper level. They aren’t memorizing to learn, they are learning to understand.