14/11/2021
We have been very busy at Ngaarrila Preschool Thora….
Stage 2
After three years of consultation with the children, the teaching team and playground design professionals we have finally begun construction on our playground refurbishment.
It makes me very happy that the children, who have been engaged in this planning process for so long, will be able to enjoy the playground (stage 1 & 2) before they move on from Preschool.
My intention was to create a playground environment that will inspire creativity, curiosity, kindness and confidence in the children of the Thora Valley for a very, very long tome to come.
Drawing on this beautiful location and the values we have for play based and nature inspired learning we are creating a playscape rich in beauty and discovery. Full of opportunities for collaborative play, investigation into science, math, art, healthy invitations to engage in challenging physical play and so much more.
The ideas for this design have been collected and collated over three years of conversations with the diverse groups of children and teaching team members.
The children have been engaged in all stages of design including initial dreaming; “we should build a swimming pool”, “a garden for the faeries”,
identifying what they love about preschool; “I love the makers corner”, “I hate the end of the day because I want to have a sleepover at preschool”, “the mulberry tree is so much fun to climb in”,
and what might be possible; “climbing and jumping things”, “monkey bars”, “lots of flowers”, “a thing to jump off into the water”, “a dry place in the water”.
The children were included in refining the design by drawing their own pictures and then making their own models prior to this second stage of construction.
What a joyful experience this has been.
The children observed the development of stage 2 and incorporated what they learned into their play. Carrying and carting, lifting and digging, mixing and pouring, measuring and balancing.
At completion the children entered the playscape with a true sense of womder. The creek bed sits in place as if it has always been there. The plants will grow over time and the children feel a sense of responsibility to care for them.
"Do you remember your first day of preschool?" I ask them, they remember how it felt to feel safe and to be cared for too.
There is so much to discover and in this environment, nothing stays the same.
Problems have deliberatley been built into the playscape.
How will they plug the holes in the basins we wonder? The first solution was to find a pebble the perfect size. Success!
Arms are not long enough to pump water and catch water at the same time. Collaboration is required, or careful balance.
Bamboo finds a purpose in the valley. Many purposes actually. It builds upper body strength, developes careful attention to detail, inspires complex thinking and brings children together. Oh, and it makes a great cubby too.
The children have a true sense of ownership over this project. They are inspired and empowered as a consequence. They know that they are valued and valuable members of this community. And I couldn’t be happier.
A big thank you to Jenn, Rorie and the Urban Discovery team for interpreting our dreams so perfectly, to Sav, Jamie and Jake for interpreting the design with such craftsmanship and care and to Katharine Sutherland for trusting in our vision.
Ngaarrila - Let’s Play
“The Early Years Learning Framework (DEEWR, 2009) describes outdoor learning spaces as environments that “invite open-ended interactions, spontaneity, risk-taking, exploration, discovery and connection with nature. They foster an appreciation of the natural environment, develop environmental awareness and provide a platform for ongoing environmental education” (p. 16) - Dr Helen Little
