If you’re anything like us, you are probably finding yourself and your children trying to soak up every minute of this beautiful sunny weather we are finally having! We have to be flexible with how we get our outdoor time in so that we avoid the hottest parts of the day or have activities in mind to combat that raging afternoon sun.
Check out my blog post from last June on making outside baskets to help get you outside earlier and faster for a long and fun summer morning. I will use this same concept for this month’s idea: making an afternoon basket to get children inside for a break from the heat!
An afternoon basket(s), carts, bins, or whatever you have will consist of items that are relatively novel, developmentally appropriate, easy to take out and put away, and mostly child directed. If all of the items meet these criteria, children should be able to come inside from the hot afternoon sun, grab their water bottle, and get to work playing and engaging with the materials independently. Ideally, a teacher or caregiver will be nearby to assist if needed, but let’s not forget the provider may need time to clean up, refill waters, prepare a snack, and rest themselves in the AC for a few moments!
Novel toys are important because they will pique children’s interest and keep them engaged. To keep materials novel, you will have to decide how often to redo or switch out materials in your afternoon baskets. Developmentally appropriate toys are necessary because the children will be able to figure out how to use the material and again, be able to engage with it appropriately. If you have more of an open ended material available, like wooden blocks, expect there to be some type of creative play happening as children use the material in their own way, such as tower building and knocking down. If you have a closed ended toy like a puzzle, be sure that it fits the skill level of the children using it so they are able to complete it. Something that is quick and easy to take out AND put away will give the children more independence and require less intervention from the teacher. Remember to introduce afternoon baskets with expectations and directions before letting the children get going! A child-directed material will give the child the power to play with the material in the best way possible, without much direction or guidance from a grown up.
Here are a few suggestions for what you might add to your Beating the Heat afternoon baskets:
Dry erase markers and laminated pages or workbooks
A small jar of play doh with a few tools to use with it
Beads and pipe cleaners
Puzzles
Self correcting manipulatives such as shape sorters
Scrap paper and scissors
Scrap paper and washi tape
Yoga pose cards
Memory games
Letter or number matching games
Markers and a notebook
Homemade activities like this clothespin letter match game from Oh, Hey, Let’s Play!
A small scooping and pouring tray with a tiny amount of water or a sensory material like mini pompoms
A book with matching coloring pages or characters (for example: A safari book with plastic safari animals or an emotion book with finger puppets)
You can match afternoon baskets to the theme of what you’re currently learning about or center them around what the children are really interested in. The point is to make everyone’s lives a little easier for the hottest hour or two of the day, so don’t overthink it; you can start small and continuously add to your afternoon basket stash. You may want to start a folder full of printouts or a large storage container that is just used for afternoon basket activities. That way, the children don’t see these materials out daily in the classroom and they will always be fun and brand new!
Happy summer and good luck as you beat the heat!
Meghan is a born and raised Montanan, mama to a new baby boy, a busy preschooler, and a bonus mom to two amazing teenagers. She holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. Meghan is currently working part time with Raise Montana as a project specialist where she writes blogs, curriculum guides, and hosts the seasonal book clubs. Meghan is passionate about using her experience as an early childhood educator and as a mom to bring knowledge and inspiration to Montana child care providers.
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