A visit from the rice lake fire department during 'fire safety week'

Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.

Independent play and being alone develops self confidence in children by allowing them freedom. Freedom to test hypothesis, try new things and take healthy risks. They create ideas, learn about them self and what they like, build on developing skills and most of all they become comfortable with who they are.

Children learn about spatial awareness when they move and arrange blocks. When children build structures and talk about them, they get a chance to use spatial vocabulary like “under”, “over”, “between”, “on top of” and “inside”. Children learn math concepts through block play, such as sorting, counting, and symmetry. Building tall block towers takes patience, concentration, and a good deal of accuracy in motor skills and coordination.

Outdoor play gives kids more advanced motor skills including coordination, balance and agility. When children are outside, they have the space to run, walk, jump, swing and throw. Hands on learning, the natural environment and loose parts in outdoor play stimulates children's senses through what they hear, touch, see and feel.

Dramatic play encourages children to role-play, which helps them learn important social skills, such as empathy. Dramatic play also encourages expressive language. Children are motivated to convey their wishes to others and speak from the perspective of their pretend roles.