Jump Off the Rug and Into Outdoor Learning

Jump Off the Rug and Into Outdoor Learning

Swapping indoor carpet squares for grass, mud, and outdoor play isn't just a fun change of scenery—it’s a powerful driver of early childhood development! In this interactive session, early childhood educators, interventionists, and evaluation specialists will discover how natural outdoor environments naturally unlock gross and fine motor skills. We will bridge the gap between outdoor play-based practices and formal assessment by explicitly linking outdoor milestone behaviors directly to the Motor Domain of the Battelle Developmental Inventory, Third Edition (BDI-3).

Learn how to swap rigid testing setups for naturalistic observations, turning everyday outdoor play into rich, actionable data for early identification, IFSP/IEP progress monitoring, and developmental outcome reporting.

Continuing Education Credit:
Participants who attend majority of the live session will be eligible to receive CEUs. Additional details regarding CE credit requirements and documentation will be provided during the webinar

Learning Objectives

1. Identify and map at least 5 key gross and fine motor developmental milestones (e.g., dynamic balance, bilateral integration, pincer grasp) within naturalistic outdoor play scenarios.
2. Align natural outdoor behaviors with the specific scoring criteria of the BDI-3 Motor Domain (Gross Motor, Fine Motor, and Perceptual Motor subdomains) to enhance evaluation accuracy.
3. Design structured outdoor play prompts and observation strategies that capture valid BDI-3 assessment data without disrupting a child’s natural play flow.

About the Speaker:

Amy Reyes-Hauff is a prominent leader in the early childhood education (ECE) landscape, dedicated to bridging developmental gaps for children across Wyoming and the United States. With over 26 years of experience in child development, leadership, and transformational change, Amy has cultivated a diverse career spanning roles as a Montessori Director, Head Start Director, Kindergarten teacher, and Administrator in state government.

Amy is a recognized expert in outdoor learning, early literacy, and the intersection of digital technology and wellness. Amy is a passionate advocate for the integration of nature into the educational experience. She is the driving force behind the "Get Wild Wyoming" initiative, a groundbreaking program that has successfully brought outdoor learning to over 300 classrooms, impacting the lives of more than 6,000 children across the state. Her philosophy centers on the belief that children thrive when they are disconnected from digital devices and reconnected with the natural world. Amy teaches that self-regulation is naturally fostered through the organic colors, shapes, sounds, and textures of the outdoors—environments that allow young learners to focus and grow without the overstimulation of modern technology. Amy’s work addresses the critical modern challenge of Digital Tech Wellness and Addiction. She provides essential guidance on emotional intelligence and the necessity of "unplugged" play to combat the rising tide of technology dependency in early childhood.

As a sought-after speaker and motivator, Amy inspires educators and parents alike to rethink the standard classroom model. She is also the author of the insightful book, "Why Did They Do That?", available on Amazon, which explores the complexities of child behavior and development. Amy continues to be a pivotal voice in the ECE space, ensuring that the next generation is grounded in literacy, emotional intelligence, and a deep, lasting connection to the world around them.