Preschool Learning: Outdoor Activities and Field Trips to Learn

Preschoolers, toddlers, and young children are always learning. When they look, touch, see and smell, they are learning. It is an endless part of their young lives. This fact of ‘learning’ is a big reason why it is important for children to experience new things and new environments.

As parents and teachers, there are a variety of places or activities that we can offer our children to learn.

Field trips or nature walks create wonderful outdoor activities for toddlers and preschoolers to learn new things. Excursions and nature walks, etc. They don’t have to be a hassle, but they can be simple places where children can observe and learn new things.

Possible places on the Field Trip where you can take your children or students:

*Police station: Children can learn about the police, what their role is in the community, as well as details about the work they do to enforce the law, etc.

*Fire station: Preschoolers and toddlers can learn about firefighters and the details of their job. They can learn about fire trucks, how they help pump water, and how firefighters keep us all safe, as well as learn about fire safety, etc.

*SPCA or Humane Society: Children learn about animals at animal shelters. They learn how important it is to respect and properly care for animals. They can also learn about duties at the animal shelter, etc. As a group, you may be able to walk some dogs or play with some small animals.

*Nursing Home or Retirement Home: Preschoolers and toddlers learn to respect the elderly and infirm. They are able to talk and socialize with residents and put a smile on many of the faces of those who are confined in these nursing homes. This is a positive rewarding experience for all.

* Library: Children can learn about all books. They learn why libraries are important, what librarians do, and maybe even read some stories from the children’s book section.

* Greenhouse: Preschool children can learn about what grows and can be grown in greenhouses. How greenhouses work throughout the year. How to take care of plants, flowers, trees, etc. They can also learn about the different colors that are found and the different smells.

* Zoo: Preschoolers and children learn what zoos do, what zookeepers are and their job duties, and how they care for animals. Children can also learn about different animals native to their country and other countries. They can also learn about different kinds of animals like birds, reptiles, mammals, etc.

* Garden Park: Children can learn about landscaping, gardening, different types of plants, flowers, and shrubs. They can also learn about different colors and caring for the environment, etc.

* Splash Park (Children’s Water Park): Great for a hot day where kids can play and have fun cooling off. Remember to ALWAYS use appropriate sunscreen and SUPERVISE children when they are out in the sun and around water.

* Paseo por el Bosque (nature walk): Children learn to observe nature. What they hear, what they see, smell, etc. They can collect leaves, pine cones, acorns, chestnuts, pine needles and other things that can be examined with magnifying glasses in classrooms as a science activity for children or use these things to create some kind of art project with the children. (*Always stay on the trail unless you are familiar with different poisonous plants like poison ivy and other things that could make things unpleasant or unsafe for you and children.)

* Conservation Area: Children can learn to take care of lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, etc. They also learn different species of trees, different types of animals that live in forests. They can learn about the animals that come during the day and the ones that come out at night. There may be opportunities to learn about sap and maple syrup producing trees, etc.

* Go to a place for children (work or author): Kids can catch a children’s play or see a popular children’s author when they come to town to read a story or sing to music.

* Security Village: Children learn about safety. They learn why it is important to be safe and various things related to laws and following rules and how they will benefit from following these things.

* Train station: Preschoolers love trains! They can learn about the trains, they can see them arrive at the station. You may even be lucky enough to hear a whistle, talk to a train operator, or take a short tour on a train.

* Airport: Kids and preschoolers can see all the small planes (maybe the biggest ones) depending on the size of the airport. They can learn about air traffic, how planes fly and how they communicate, etc. They may get to talk to a pilot or other workers and learn about their job duties.

* Grocery store: Children can learn about different foods. They can learn about food groups, how foods are shipped to stores, and learn about healthy food choices, etc.

* Pet Shop: Children and preschoolers love pets. A local pet store may welcome a little tour and display some of their birds, cats, and puppies for the kids. They can learn about caring for animals and feeding them, etc.

**The list of places where you can take field trips and preschool learning is endless. Use your imagination to think outside the ‘box’.

These places usually have some sort of tour, they can set up a tour or would just welcome a visit from some toddlers or preschoolers who are eager to learn new things!

Outdoor activities and seasonal activities for children:

Different seasons and weather present different opportunities for excursions and outdoor activities for children.

For example:

Winter can allow for a different kind of nature walk or a trip to a conservation area to learn about maple syrup. Spring and fall can also create a different focus on outdoor activities.

Summer time may allow more opportunities for recreational activities such as water parks, water parks; trips to the beaches or picnics, etc.

Preschoolers love these outdoor activities and field trips. They are always eager to learn about things around them, learn more about the people who make up the community they live in, and learn about animals and nature.