Field Trip: Pumpkin Patch

Everyone loves a field trip! We look forward to our annual visit to the local pumpkin patch.  Children really benefit when exposed to new experiences. This outing includes a petting zoo, playing in the shelled feed corn pit, slides, mazes, hayrides and taking a pumpkin home. There are so many sensory opportunities: the texture of animal fur, the dryness of the cornstalks and hay, and the smooth vegetables. Allowing children to run, climb and jump gives them the opportunity to develop gross motor skills. When families go on outings together, parents should engage with their children, do the things that are fun and age-appropriate, point out interesting things, and explain new words to encourage language development. It was a great fall day to be a Crusader!