Lexington County has a new amenity aimed at engaging children with different abilities.

The MEGA Child Development Center, located at 3630 Augusta Hwy. in Gilbert, held a Grow Outdoors SC kickoff and ribbon cutting Dec. 11 for their new outdoor space that features multiple stimulation areas for children.

During the kickoff event, the state Department of Social Services and Department of Health and Environmental Control announced a partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Learning Initiative to transform outdoor spaces for child care centers.

The first group of child care centers to participate in Grow Outdoors SC, with the National Wildlife Federation’s Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) and the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) are currently being selected, a release states.

“DSS and DHEC are excited about this collaborative journey with the National Wildlife Federation and the National Learning Initiative,” Michael Leach, director for the state’s Department of Social Services. “The partnership aligns with DSS’ mission to ensure the well being of South Carolina's youngest citizens.

“Together, we can create vibrant, nature-inspired spaces that foster the growth and happiness of our children with lasting results,” he added.

According to a press release, the Gilbert center was one of seven ABC Quality child care programs to be chosen as Grow Outdoors SC demonstration sites in 2022. Each site received seed grant funding and technical support to enhance its outdoor play space.

To celebrate the center and the partnerships, some of the center's children had the honor of cutting the ribbon, after which tours were given and the children got to run around and experience the space.

The outdoor area includes a spot for very young children, a half-shaded sand area, a garden, a reading area, a mini soccer field and basketball court, a track to ride tricycles, “earth play” featuring sand and fishing poles with wooden fish, a play kitchen and tool area, along with a hill with tires lining it.

Leach said that the child care setting is one of the best opportunities to positively affect a child’s overall health and learning. He added that a naturalized outdoor play and learning area is designed to support a child’s curiosity and desire to learn as it provides them with an engaging, stimulating and safe place to explore and play.

“I'm sure many of you could think back to your childhood and think about the wonderful memories that you have. enjoying the outdoors and exploring and learning all that you can,” Michelle Bowers, division director of early care and education for the state's Department of Social Services, said. “This is where we're headed with these childcare facilities in our state. We're launching this initiative toward naturalizing or greening our network of childcare providers.”

Bowers and Leach were not the only speakers to lean on their memories of playing outdoors, Edward Simmer, Agency Director for the States DHEC, sharing that growing up in a more rural area he would play in the woods and a creek and just have "all sorts of fun.”

Simmer stated that there are a lot of children who don’t have that opportunity whether that is from living in an apartment or a location where it is not safe to be running around and exploring outside. He shared that this is why he is excited about centers like MEGA as it provides children the chance to safely be outdoors.

The director also shared another side to having children play outdoors and that is childhood obesity. 

“The most recent data shows that 42% of South Carolina public school students ages five to 18 are overweight or obese, and more than half, 57%, do not meet the minimum cardiac standard,” Simmer said. “We know that when you're obese as a child that often carries over into adulthood and can lead to all sorts of problems in adulthood things like diabetes and high blood pressure and arthritis and other medical problems.”

In addition to helping to curb childhood obesity, he emphasized outdoor play improves cognitive and emotional development and can improve a young child's motor skills.

“Addressing them early is incredibly important,” Simmer added.