Three to Five Program Outside Time
Children at Leap Forward participate in a minimum of 3 hours of Active Play. Active Play encourages moderate to vigorous bursts of energy that increase the heart rate. Children participate in Active Play that is both teacher and child lead while outside, in their main program rooms and when on field trips to our on-site dance studio.
Each day there are two scheduled outside times. The children enjoy the fresh air and an extended time of play each morning and afternoon. During these play times, the children not only experience free play but also planned activities lead by the educators. While outside, they enjoy actives that allow them to develop their grows and fine motor skills and listening skills and imaginations. Some of these activities include bubble blowing, dancing to music and painting. Children at Leap Forward Childcare also enjoy activities that allow them to just be kids, moving as they please. They are given space and activities that encourage running, jumping, marching, skipping, crawling, and turning.
Children enjoy the use of tricycles, balls, cars, trucks, dolls and accessories, kitchen centre and accessories, tool centre and accessories, skipping ropes, hula hoops, bowling games, puzzles, water play centre, sand play centre, calk, bubbles, picnic centre, musical instruments, and the very popular parachute game.
Our on-site play space has a sturdy 6’ fence and covers a space of more than 1800 square feet which wraps around the back of the building in an “L” shape. The children plant flowers and such along the edges and wait patiently, looking each day, to see the exciting growth that has taken place. The ground is often marked or painted with child friendly activities and markings such as Hopscotch and bicycle paths. Our on-site play space is colourful, safe, welcoming, functional, and inviting for the children, parents, and educators of Leap Forward Childcare.
Leap Forward Childcare is also equipped with an age-appropriate sturdy and safe jungle gym for the children to use at their leisure. It is important to note that the children who are not yet three years old will not be allowed to use the climbing items that are above three feet off the ground due to VIHA licencing regulations.
The use of the play space is on a scheduled rotation. This means the Three to Five Program uses the outside space at different times than the other programs in the building. Outside time is cancelled only in extreme weather conditions that would make it an uncomfortable or undesirable experience for the children. At Leap Forward Childcare, we are not afraid of a little rain or the snow!