Build a new playlot for Cherry Preschool!
Tax deductible
Join us on our mission to update the Cherry Preschool Playlot!
For children, play isn't just for fun. It's how they learn! Running and jumping, climbing, and stretching. Riding tricycles. Gross motor play is fundamental to brain development, helping children sit more easily for circle time, interact more successfully with their playmates, and feel more emotionally regulated. Feeling the sun and the breeze. Examining the flowers and plants (even weeds!) Digging and building in the sand or dirt. Play within a natural environment has additional benefits to social and emotional growth. Do you remember your outdoor play experiences? For 20 years, the young children at Cherry have enjoyed the sandbox, slide, climbers, vehicles, and more in our playlot. But it’s time for a change and we need you!
Outdoor play has always been part of Cherry Preschool’s curriculum. In those first years, nearby Penny Park was great for the 4- and 5-year-olds. But it wasn’t appropriate for our youngest learners (2-3 year olds). For them, a self-contained outdoor play space has some significant advantages over larger spaces where the size of equipment accommodates older children. The smaller, self-contained space greatly facilitates separation from parents—which is fundamental to a child’s relationship with an educator—since it helps a child feel more secure.
Such an attached play space for the youngest of Cherry’s children was always in the founders’ vision for the school. But before 1997 Cherry Preschool’s play lot was nothing more than a tenant parking lot with a lot of potential. That year parent volunteers and staff pulled together for our version of an old-fashioned barn raising and made the play lot much as you see it today. This ambitious project took years to plan, 50 parent volunteers, and our entire staff to build.
Today the equipment, which was the best we could afford and state of the art at the time, is no longer the best to support current play standards. After two decades, the impact-resistant surface of the playlot is breaking down. Few natural elements appear in the current space. Equipment available for children with special needs was minimal in the original design. To keep the playlot safe and up to standards requires a renovation; the opportunity to improve the design in the process can’t be missed!
We need you to help make this dream a reality by making a contribution to this worthy endeavor that will enrich your child’s preschool experience. Join us today by making a donation and sharing this GoFundMe with your network of friends and family.
This time around, we don’t need elbow grease from 50 volunteers and 30 staff members but do need your help to raise funds for the project.
Key Features:
The new play lot is designed for 21st-century learners!
Natural elements like a tree, raised bed planters, and playable natural features like a hollowed out tree trunk are part of the new design.
Raised planting beds will be planted by our classrooms and allow children to learn about plant growth and gardening.
Play will be more accessible for all. Equipment has been chosen with the children with special needs in our Inclusion Program in mind.
More gross motor play opportunities will be added.
New impact resistant ground covering will be installed
New play equipment to promote specific skills has been chosen.
Activities to keep sensory-seeking kids busy and happy are incorporated.
You can positively affect your child’s preschool experience by donating today!
What does the research say about gross motor play?
Gross motor play underpins brain as well as physical development. Children who spend more time in physical exercise show better cognitive skills (www.nature.com/articles/nrn2298). Gross motor play helps children sit more easily for circle time, play better with their playmates, and it generally aids in their mental health and sense of wellbeing, which facilitates learning (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061837). Young children’s exposure to natural and green play spaces benefits their mental and physical health and social and emotional development in several ways (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6264829).
Share our mission!
You help us by:
· Contributing funds to the project.
· Like, share, or forward this project to friends and family.
· Tell us all your favorite memories of outdoor play.
For children, play isn't just for fun. It's how they learn! Running and jumping, climbing, and stretching. Riding tricycles. Gross motor play is fundamental to brain development, helping children sit more easily for circle time, interact more successfully with their playmates, and feel more emotionally regulated. Feeling the sun and the breeze. Examining the flowers and plants (even weeds!) Digging and building in the sand or dirt. Play within a natural environment has additional benefits to social and emotional growth. Do you remember your outdoor play experiences? For 20 years, the young children at Cherry have enjoyed the sandbox, slide, climbers, vehicles, and more in our playlot. But it’s time for a change and we need you!
Outdoor play has always been part of Cherry Preschool’s curriculum. In those first years, nearby Penny Park was great for the 4- and 5-year-olds. But it wasn’t appropriate for our youngest learners (2-3 year olds). For them, a self-contained outdoor play space has some significant advantages over larger spaces where the size of equipment accommodates older children. The smaller, self-contained space greatly facilitates separation from parents—which is fundamental to a child’s relationship with an educator—since it helps a child feel more secure.
Such an attached play space for the youngest of Cherry’s children was always in the founders’ vision for the school. But before 1997 Cherry Preschool’s play lot was nothing more than a tenant parking lot with a lot of potential. That year parent volunteers and staff pulled together for our version of an old-fashioned barn raising and made the play lot much as you see it today. This ambitious project took years to plan, 50 parent volunteers, and our entire staff to build.
Today the equipment, which was the best we could afford and state of the art at the time, is no longer the best to support current play standards. After two decades, the impact-resistant surface of the playlot is breaking down. Few natural elements appear in the current space. Equipment available for children with special needs was minimal in the original design. To keep the playlot safe and up to standards requires a renovation; the opportunity to improve the design in the process can’t be missed!
We need you to help make this dream a reality by making a contribution to this worthy endeavor that will enrich your child’s preschool experience. Join us today by making a donation and sharing this GoFundMe with your network of friends and family.
This time around, we don’t need elbow grease from 50 volunteers and 30 staff members but do need your help to raise funds for the project.
Key Features:
The new play lot is designed for 21st-century learners!
Natural elements like a tree, raised bed planters, and playable natural features like a hollowed out tree trunk are part of the new design.
Raised planting beds will be planted by our classrooms and allow children to learn about plant growth and gardening.
Play will be more accessible for all. Equipment has been chosen with the children with special needs in our Inclusion Program in mind.
More gross motor play opportunities will be added.
New impact resistant ground covering will be installed
New play equipment to promote specific skills has been chosen.
Activities to keep sensory-seeking kids busy and happy are incorporated.
You can positively affect your child’s preschool experience by donating today!
What does the research say about gross motor play?
Gross motor play underpins brain as well as physical development. Children who spend more time in physical exercise show better cognitive skills (www.nature.com/articles/nrn2298). Gross motor play helps children sit more easily for circle time, play better with their playmates, and it generally aids in their mental health and sense of wellbeing, which facilitates learning (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061837). Young children’s exposure to natural and green play spaces benefits their mental and physical health and social and emotional development in several ways (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6264829).
Share our mission!
You help us by:
· Contributing funds to the project.
· Like, share, or forward this project to friends and family.
· Tell us all your favorite memories of outdoor play.
Fundraising team (7)
Cherry Warren
Organizer
Evanston, IL
Warren W Cherry Preschool
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
Maggie Hessler
Team member
Matt Barton
Team member
Nora Wasserman
Team member
Adrienne Camhi
Team member
