Benefit Concert: Feeling Friends Island at Kimberley Park Elementary

How many times have you encouraged your child to play outside? Picture the joy, happiness, and excitement they have just at the mere mention of this activity. Now, imagine if your child’s elementary school could provide this experience to them; that unique opportunity to go outside, practice social and emotional learning skills, and commune with nature while enjoying the wholesome benefits of what the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights declares is “a right of every child; outdoor playing.”

Outdoor playing is known to strengthen bodies and minds, build self-esteem and confidence, and foster empathy to grow socially and emotionally stronger. It teaches children how to communicate, solve problems, and develop the skills they need through life. It allows them to experience the awe and wonder of nature. Outdoor play is how children learn and grow. Outdoor play is vital to being human.

The current playground at Kimberley Park Elementary School is in dire need of an uplift. The playground lacks equipment, a connection to nature, does not offer the opportunities to teach social and emotional learning, and leaves too many children on the sidelines with nothing to do during outdoor play. Children thus become bored, restless, and complacent during play.

The staff at Kimberly Park Elementary School desire that their children learn and play outdoors on a playground that is equitable to other playgrounds in Forsyth County, NC. This is why we have made it our mission to build Feeling Friends Island at Kimberley Park Elementary – a nature-inspired social and emotional playground designed for achieving Equitable Play for Equitable Health for the students at Kimberley Park Elementary School.