ABSTRACT

Outdoor play benefits a child's physical, mental, and emotional well-being (McCarthy, 2020). It benefits children's physical development by advancing their motor skills, burning excess fat, enhancing muscle strength, and improving overall health. Outdoor play helps children in developing their observational and reasoning skills, improving relationships with their peers, and building their love for nature (Bento & Dias, 2017). Outdoor play can foster science, ecological framework, and learning about natural elements. Furthermore, children that play outside are stronger emotionally because it encourages them to use all senses and develops their sense of independence. Despite these benefits, not all preschool children play outside. Studies show that more children live a sedentary lifestyle characterized by a lack of physical activity (McCarthy, 2020). They either play video games or watch television at home. Space is so expensive, and modern neighborhoods lack adequate playing grounds. Moreover, parents prefer their children to stay indoors for safety reasons. Economically disadvantaged urban communities often lack access to play in quality and safe outdoor parks. As a result, school is the best place for children to engage in physical activity. This is because schools have adequate space, and children spend most of their time in school (Bento & Dias, 2017). However, schools are struggling with limited budgets, especially today when they are still recovering from the damaging effects of the pandemic. Playground equipment is very expensive, and this will discourage them from providing adequate play. Rehoboth Preschool is requesting a $5000 grant to purchase playground equipment. The school will use these funds for the following purposes: purchase playground equipment with unique play items, pay shipping and handling fees, installation, provide safety surfacing, and employ maintenance staff.