Hutchinson Public Schools

  • District
      • Activities
          • Activities Department Handbook
          • Activities Employment Opportunities
          • Registration: Fees & Forms
          • Season Passes
          • Special Olympics
          • Tiger Apparel
          • Wall of Fame
        • Close
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
      • Covid-19 Resources
      • District Office
          • Audit
          • Budget
          • Calendar
          • Curriculum
          • District Directory
          • Employment
          • Enroll Your Child
            • Annual Update Information
            • Online Kindergarten Registration
            • Close
          • Policy
          • School Board
            • Agendas & Minutes
            • Elections
            • Members
            • Close
          • School Improvement
          • Teacher Licensure/Relicensure
          • World’s Best Workforce
        • Close
      • Employee Info
      • Referendum Vote Information
      • Services/Resources
          • Dollars For Scholars
          • Health Services
            • Automated External Defibrillators
            • Care Plans
            • Head Lice Information
            • Immunizations
            • Infectious Diseases
            • Medication
            • Minnesota Health Care Links
            • Wellness
            • Close
          • ISD 423 Foundation
          • Nutrition Program
            • Menus
            • Free & Reduced Meals
            • Meal Prices & Charging/Debt Collection Procedure
            • Operating Policies
            • Close
          • School Resource Officer
          • Technology
            • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
            • G Suite for Education (Google Apps)
            • District Technology Plan
            • Close
          • Transportation
        • Close
      • Staff Directory
      • Tailored Programs
          • English Learners
          • Section 504
          • Community Education
          • Early Childhood Programs and Services
            • Early Childhood Screening
            • Early Intervention
            • Play and Learn Preschool
            • Close
          • Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
          • Crow River Area Learning Center
            • Admission Requirements
            • Contact Us
            • Mission Statement
            • Night School Calendar
            • Night School Course Options
            • Night School Registration Form
            • Night School Schedule
            • Summer School Registration is now closed
            • Close
          • GED / Adult Basic Education
          • Minnesota Reading Corps
          • REACH
            • Why REACH?
            • Day to REACH Camp
            • Meet Our Staff
            • REACH Gallery
            • REACH in the News
            • Sponsors
            • What People Are Saying About REACH
            • REACH Program Overview
            • Our Success
            • Close
          • Special Education
            • Early Childhood Special Education
            • Parent/Guardian Resources
            • Special Ed FAQ
            • Special Olympics
            • Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
            • Close
          • STaR – Success, Teamwork, and Responsibility
          • Title 1
            • Title 1 Park
            • Title 1 West
            • Close
        • Close
    • Main Contact

      30 Glen Street NW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-2860

      Fax: 320-587-4590

    • Close
  • West Elementary
      • Early Learning Programs
      • For Students
        • 1st Grade Websites
        • Kindergarten Websites
        • Close
      • For Parents
          • Counselors Corner
            • Character Education Classroom Leaders
            • Group Counseling
            • Individual Counseling
            • Parenting Classes
            • Starting School
            • Close
          • 1st Grade
          • Kindergarten
          • From the Principal
          • Parent / Student Handbook
          • PTO
          • Should my child be in school?
          • Statewide Testing Refusal
          • Supply List
        • Close
      • Resources
          • Academic Standards
          • Library
            • Great Websites
            • Book Awards
            • Close
          • Staff Websites
          • West Elementary Directory
        • Close
      • Activities
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
    • West Elementary

      PreK - Grade 1

      875 School Road SW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-4470

      Fax: 320-587-0735

    • Close
  • Tiger Elementary
      • For Students
        • 2nd Grade
        • 3rd Grade
        • Close
      • For Parents
        • 2nd Grade
          • Teacher Contact Information
        • 3rd Grade
          • Teacher Contact Information
        • School Supply List for Tiger Elementary
        • Student Handbook for Tiger Elementary
        • Statewide Testing Refusal – Tiger
        • Close
      • Resources
      • Activities
        • 3rd Grade Musical
        • Close
      • Contact Us
    • Tiger Elementary

      Grades 2 - 3

      805 School Road SW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-1122

    • Close
  • Park Elementary
      • For Students
          • 4th Grade
            • Brainstorm
            • Language, Spelling, and Writing
            • 4th Grade Math
            • Reading
            • Science
            • Social Studies
            • SAFETY
            • Close
          • 5th Grade
          • Visual Arts
          • MCA Online Test Practice
          • Science Sites
        • Close
      • For Parents
          • 4th Grade
            • Teacher Contact Information
            • Close
          • 5th Grade
            • Teacher Contact Information
            • Close
          • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
          • From the Principal
          • New to Park Elementary
          • Student / Parent Handbook
          • Summer Resources
          • 4th & 5th Grade Teachers and Room Numbers
          • Conferences
          • PTO
          • Newsletters
          • School Supply List
          • Tech Tips for Parents
            • Electronic Databases
            • Close
          • School Report Card
          • STAR Testing
          • Statewide Testing Refusal
        • Close
      • Resources
        • Park Elementary Directory
        • Park Elementary History
        • Close
      • Activities
        • 5th Grade Band
        • FIRST LEGO League
        • Hutch Athletics/Parks and Recreation
        • Specialists at Park
        • Close
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
    • Park Elementary

      Grades 4 - 5

      100 Glen Street SW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-2837

      Fax: 320-587-4821

    • Close
  • Middle School
      • For Students
      • For Parents
          • Course Database
            • Art
            • English/Language Arts
            • Health
            • Music
            • Physical Education
            • Science
            • Social Studies
            • Close
          • Emergency School Closing Information
          • Morning Announcements
          • Principal Newsletter
          • Online Payments
          • School Report Card
          • Statewide Testing Refusal
          • Student Handbook
          • Supply List for Hutchinson Middle School
        • Close
      • Resources
          • Middle School Directory
          • Student Resources
          • Staff Resources
          • HMS Library Media Center
            • Access Online Books (free)
            • Book Trailers
            • Digital Citizenship & Digital Wellness
            • ISTE Standards for Students
            • Close
          • School Resource Officer
        • Close
      • Activities
        • Activities Department Handbook
        • Fall Sports Start Dates
        • Middle School Musical
        • Registration: Fees & Forms
        • Season Passes
        • Spring Sport Start Dates
        • Winter Activities Start Dates
        • Wright County Conference (WCC)
        • Close
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
      • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
        • Benefits of BYOD
        • Device Recommendations
        • Digital Learning Toolbox
        • Prepare Device for BYOD from Home
        • What does a BYOD classroom look like?
        • Close
    • Middle School

      Grades 6 - 8

      1365 South Grade Road SW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-2854

      Fax: 320-587-2857

    • Close
  • High School
      • What’s Happening at HHS This Week
      • For Students
        • 2022-2023 Student Handbook
        • Business
        • Counseling Center- Naviance, Website, and Scheduling Appointments
        • English
        • English Learners (EL)
        • FACS
        • Mathematics
        • Music
        • Physical Education/Health
        • Science
        • Social Studies
        • Special Education
        • Technology Education and Agricultural Sciences
        • Visual Arts
        • World Languages
        • Close
      • For Parents
          • 2023 Graduation
          • Counseling Center Website and Link to Naviance
          • Process Grade
          • School Report Card
          • Statewide Testing Refusal
          • Jennifer Telecky, HS Principal
            • MEADA, Ms. Morrow
            • Close
          • Daily Announcements
          • Online Payments
          • National Honor Society
          • Bell Schedule
          • 2022-2023 Supply List
        • Close
      • Resources
          • High School Directory
          • Naviance
          • FAQ
          • Technology Information
            • Pearson Success Net
            • Close
          • School Resource Officer
          • Math Lab
        • Close
      • Activities
        • Activities Department Handbook
        • Activities Employment Opportunities
        • Fall Musical
        • Fall Sports Start Dates & Times
        • HHS Clubs & Enrichments
        • Hutchinson High School Activities Marketing Sponsorship
        • Lettering at HHS
        • Prom
        • Season Passes
        • Registration: Fees & Forms
        • Special Olympics
        • HHS Spring Sports Dates
        • TIGER of the Week
        • Wall of Fame
        • Winter Activities Start Dates
        • Wright County Conference Schedules
        • Close
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
      • 2023-24 Hutchinson High School Course Catalog
        • ISD 423 Graduation Requirements
        • Close
      • ISD423 BYOD
        • ISD 423 Personal Device Regulations
        • BYOD FAQ
        • Close
      • Counseling Center Website
      • TigerPath Academies
      • Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
    • High School

      Grades 9 - 12

      1200 Roberts Road

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-2151

      Fax: 320-587-8217

    • Close
  • Quick Links
    • calendarCalendar
    • employmentEmployment
    • onlineenrollmentEnroll Now
    • menusMenus
    • tigerportalTiger Portal
    • weatherWeather
    • Close
Home : District Featured Slides : Outdoor Play

Outdoor Play

March 25, 2019 By Hutch Tiger

The Benefits of Outdoor Play for a Child’s Brain and Body
By Anne Broderius, Principal, West Elementary

 

Now that the weather looks like it has finally turned the corner and warmer temperatures and sunshine are on the way, it’s exciting to think about children and adults enjoying more of the outdoors once again. Play is important for a child’s healthy brain and body development and it’s through play that children engage and interact with the world around them. Children explore, take risks, experiment, develop fine and gross motor muscle memory, problem solve, discover, and use imagination all through play. Outdoor play takes children away from excessive TV and computer or video games which has become all to common a form of play. Outdoor play provides an opportunity for important physical activity and children moving their bodies in a fun way that supports many areas of development.

It’s important to encourage different kinds of play. Physical play should be encouraged with opportunities at outdoor playgrounds, lawns, and sidewalks for walking, running, climbing, skipping, rolling, jumping, and biking. These types of play help children develop gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. It’s important to encourage rolling, crawling, climbing, and swinging. Do you remember being a kid and rolling down a hill, playing on a swing set, or riding bike all day long?

Another type of play is constructive play. Constructive play allows children to be creative with all kinds of objects. See how creative children are when given some random materials like wood blocks, pvc pipe, balls, string, boxes, and canisters. Do you remember how much fun it was to play with an old cardboard box as a kid? Sometimes children have more fun with the empty box than with the item that came inside of it.

Children needs lots of opportunity for social play. Providing children a chance to play with other children similar in age is important for development. Through social play, children learn how to share, cooperate, take turns, and express emotions. It’s important an adult is close by observing and supporting the play as needed.  This provides the adult a chance to intervene should children need help with a conflict. Remember to only intervene if necessary as children need opportunities to practice problem solving and resolving conflict independently too.

Games with rules are important as they help develop cognitive and social development. In addition, games with rules provide a chance to practice cooperation, negotiation, and competition. Children have fun making up the rules to familiar games or even games they create on their own.  Adults should encourage, support, and have fun with whatever rules the child comes up with. Remember to balance the amount of games with rules with plenty of free or unstructured play. Follow your child’s lead on this. Some children prefer one type of play over another.

Finally, outdoor play helps to reduce the spread of infections, and improve the immune system just by being in the fresh air. Being outdoors is healthy for all of us. Research shows that exercise helps burns calories, strengthens muscles, and builds healthy bones.  Being outside also provides our bodies with a natural way to build up our vitamin levels and lessens the likelihood of developing chronic diseases.

Play is an important and critical part of childhood and offers so many important developmental benefits. Play is how our children learn. Playing with our children is a great way to engage with and enjoy each of them. Children who are encouraged to play outdoors are more likely to become an adult who enjoys being active in the outdoors. Ask any adult who enjoys hiking, gardening, biking, or jogging when they got started. More than likely they will share a story about a parent or positive role model who supported, modeled, and encourage play and physical activity.

If you’d like to learn more about the importance of play, please join us from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30th at the Hutchinson High School Auditorium for an adult forum from the Jeffers Foundation about Nature Play. For more information, contact West Elementary at 320-587-4470.

Filed Under: District Featured Slides, Park Elementary Featured, West Elementary Featured

Middle School

1365 South Grade Road SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2854
Fax: 320-587-2857
Staff Contact Information

Park Elementary

100 Glen Street SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2837
Fax: 320-587-4821
Staff Contact Information

District

30 Glen Street NW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2860
Fax: 320-587-4590
Staff Contact Information

High School

1200 Roberts Road
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2151
Fax: 320-587-8217
Staff Contact Information

West Elementary

875 School Road SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-4470
Fax: 320-587-0735
Staff Contact Information

Tiger Elementary

805 School Road SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
Phone: 320-587-1122
Fax: 855-574-0782

Staff Contact Information

© 2023 Hutchinson School District | Privacy Statement | Sitemap | Log in