Check out a nature studies blog from Ms. Jung she sees some of the our younger aftercare children master playground skills they've been working on.

CT AC kiddos are so proud they can hang upside down from the parallel bars! It takes practice, and perseverance to be able to pull yourself up to the bars and hang long enough to call over a teacher to show them what you can do.

In order for the children to have the secure knowledge something is a risk they can take we do not help them up a climbing structure (or a tree) and they may only climb up again, after they have learned to get themselves down safely. Up is usually much easier than down ;)

Skills learned/trained during this activity: gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, small muscles of fingers and hands (crucial for later being able to write, knit, paint, draw etc), pride in accomplishment, friendship, taking turns, being careful not to hurt another, getting up and down from the parallel bars.

Maren Jung is the Forest Explorers Director and our Nature Studies Teacher. Learn more about WSB's sustainability initiatives.