Natural Playground
Exposure to nature can reduce stress levels by as much as 28% in children.
Source: educationandbehavior.com
Trinity’s kids love playing on our natural playground!
And it’s no wonder. The idea for the playground started with one of our elementary students. While a school addition was being built, the excavated dirt made a temporary hill, which the kids loved to play on. When this student heard that the pile would soon be removed, she pleaded with her grandpa (one of the founders), “No, Opa! Don’t get rid of our dirt! Don’t get rid of our sticks!”
So the Board began to look into natural playgrounds and discovered that this type of play area has many benefits for childhood development.
Natural playground benefits
- Natural playgrounds present more opportunities for exploration and discovery, helping develop critical thinking skills.
- Children tend to play in less “scripted” ways, encouraging collaboration and communication.
- Through touching, feeling, and collecting natural objects, fine motor activity is challenged and strengthened.