Teddy Bear Mother Goose Picnic promotes play as educational activity

Jun 15, 2017 | 11:15 AM

KAMLOOPS — Hundreds of children were encouraged to get outside and play this morning during the 12th annual Teddy Bear Mother Goose picnic at Riverside Park. 

The cloudy skies did little to discourage parents from bringing their children to the outdoor event. 

Hosted by the Kamloops Early Language and Literacy Initiative, the Teddy Bear Mother Goose picnic serves as an end of season wrap up party. 

Numerous community partners pitched in to provide a variety of activities for children to participate in. 

KELLI coordinator Maureen Doll said the event puts an emphasis on good old-fashioned playtime. 

“That really is a child’s work,” Doll said. “That’s how their brain develops. They really need that opportunity to come to a station, look at an activity, and then decide how they want to adjust that activity to meet their needs. It’s how we learn boundaries, and it’s how we learn problem-solving, and communication, and oral language, and number and letter recognition. It’s all done through play.”