
Why Real-World Adventures Matter More Than Storybooks for Babies | See the Surprising Impact of Meeting Farm Animals Up Close!
When we think about the activities we do with babies aged zero to three, reading often comes to mind. Parents love to read to their little ones, and it’s a wonderful bonding time. However, when we talk to hundreds of parents, the primary concern we hear is, “How do I support my child in reaching their developmental milestones?” While reading is fantastic for emotional milestones—helping children feel safe and connected to another person—there are many other milestones to consider. That’s where play and movement come in as the most important things you can do for your child. Play isn’t just about one aspect of development; it allows children to develop in every area.
Play is when children engage in the world in a positive way on their own. It’s their own self-initiated engagement with the world that brings some kind of pleasure or connection.



Recently, we took a trip to Green Meadows Farm in Brooklyn with our babies. We invited all of our families with children aged zero to three to come and spend a day at the farm. It was incredible to see the children fully immersed in sensory experiences. One of the most impactful moments was seeing the children interact with chickens.For many children, chickens are central to their meals, forming a key part of their diet with staples like eggs, chicken nuggets, and other chicken-based dishes. But seeing a chicken in its natural environment, as opposed to on a plate, brings a new understanding. A chicken, especially at the height of a two-year-old, offers a real, tactile experience that connects children to the process of food production. They begin to learn that the food they eat, like chicken nuggets, comes from a farm before it reaches McDonald’s or the grocery store.
This kind of sensory, nature-based play doesn’t just teach children about animals and where food comes from; it engages all their senses. They smell the farm, hear the animals, and walk on the uneven surfaces that help develop their coordination and motor skills. It’s this hands-on learning that truly supports their whole development.
It was amazing to watch the children fully immerse themselves in the sensory experiences around them. They didn’t just hear that a pig goes “oink”—they saw the pig, smelled it, and listened closely to discover if a pig really says “oink.” Even though they couldn’t touch it, they reached out as if they could. The same went for the cow. It wasn’t just about knowing a cow says “moo”; they ran toward it, felt the ground beneath their feet, and truly took in the sight and smell of the animal.
There’s something magical about the way smell brings an experience to life—it’s a full-body sensation. One of my favorite books has always been Is Your Mama a Llama?, but nothing compares to seeing children interact with a real llama. When they can see it up close, smell it, and feel the uneven ground beneath their feet, the story becomes real in a way words alone never could.
We often forget how important the ground itself is in a child’s development. For kids aged zero to three, walking on different surfaces—those with bumps, inclines, and dips—is crucial. We’re so used to flat floors, but these varied surfaces challenge their coordination and balance in ways that smooth, even ground simply can’t.
This brings us to the idea of “Nature Deficit.” Children today often spend much of their time indoors, disconnected from nature. Yet playing in nature is one of the most important things we can offer them. Nature engages all their senses—sight, sound, smell, and touch—while also providing opportunities for physical development through uneven surfaces, climbing, and exploring. It’s essential that we create opportunities for children to play in natural environments, as it fosters a connection to the world around them in ways that indoor play simply cannot replicate.
Hi, I’m Miss Emmy. I’ve been an early childhood educator for over thirty years, as a mother, teacher, administrator, and coach. I’m a student of Maria Montessori, Emmi Pikler, and the philosopher Lev Vygotsky, and I’ve learned that play is the foundation for a child’s development. Through play, children develop not just physically but emotionally and cognitively, and they learn how to engage with the world around them in meaningful ways.