CYFAR Conference

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CYFAR Conference May, 2008 Play Outside!
Teaching Parents and Teachers What do to
Outdoors with Children Presenter Karen
DeBord, Ph.D. Department of 4-H Youth and Family
Consumer Science North Carolina State
University
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What do you remember?

• Think back to what you enjoyed doing outside in
  your elementary school days

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Why are we pushing nature and outdoors?Whats
the big deal?

• Children arent spending time outdoors
• Safety concerns
• Perceived increase in crime
• Traffic
• Rules, regulations, sanitation
• Current conditions
• Lack of high quality outdoor environments
• Health issues
• Lack of physical activity/physical fitness
• Rising childhood obesity rates, juvenile diabetes
• Epidemic of ADHD
• Allergies, asthma, respiratory illness

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It is important for. . .

• Health
• Fitness
• Attention/Focus
• Emotional/Social development
• Social skills
• Language development

• Nature/science knowledge
• Counting, math, numeration skills
• Complexity of play
• Problem-solving skills
• Reflection

and much more!
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(No Transcript)
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Five Domains

• Physical Environment (13 items)
• Interactions (13 items)
• Play Learning Settings (13 items)
• Program (9 items)
• Teacher/Caregiver Role (8 items)

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Additional information

• Additional information with visuals were shared
  in the session
• Please see this website for links to photos and
  resources
• Also click on LINKS and Extension fact sheet
• The POEMS instrument is user friendly and a great
  resource
• www.poemsnc.org