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Montessori Children's House
5003 218th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA 98053
425-868-7805
Outdoor Environment
MCH offers one of the Northwest's premier outdoor learning environments for
young children.
Home to a barn and our beloved community of animals -
including two pygmy goats - the Barn Area of the playground provides continuous
hands-on learning for the children. Not only are the children often
involved in raising the barn residents from infancy, the animals are part of the
schools daily life. During recess, small groups of children can be found
pulling weeds and feeding them to the goats, refilling the water troughs, and
more!
Our extensive gardens continue to evolve. Each year, following
the cycle of the seasons, the children plant, tend and harvest. The playground
has many trees, both evergreen and fruit, awaiting discovery. The children
experience the wonder and awe of nature and life-cycles in very concrete and
relevant ways - not to mention all of the fun they have with worms and
dandelions!
During the 2001-2002 school year, the Parent Association along
with the financial support of the community of families and MCH, purchased a new
and marvelous play structure for our playground! The labor of many parent
volunteers made this dream a reality during several very rainy weekends in
April. The children are now experts on all of its unique and wonderful
possibilities. In addition to the new play structure, the playground has monkey
bars, a tire swing, a large covered sand box with a slide, a stage platform, and
many "hidden" works of art.
During the 2006-2007 school year, the Parent Association again
partnered with MCH to establish a prepared outdoor play environment in the
undercover play area. A climbing structure with safety mat and bins of
interactive toys offer children the opportunity to play outside during inclement
weather conditions.
