In a recent study published by the UBC think tank – HELP (Human Early Learning Partnership) experts are now calling for a freshly “old school” approach to playground design. In recent years due to a movement towards making playgrounds safe we have been removing nature from the playground and replacing it with manmade materials making an environment that is not developmentally stimulating for children.
The study followed the play habits preschoolers and toddlers over 5 years and found that 87 percent of the time children don’t play with equipment provided and when the children did play with the equipment they didn’t play with it “in its intended purpose.”
The study concluded that the equipment “lacked challenge” and that children are drawn to natural materials like mud and trees in lieu of the multi coloured plastic megaliths that we are erecting as playgrounds.
Is it me, or is this another study telling us things we already know? Is it a newsflash to any parent out there that kids like digging in the mud?
First of all, let’s address the fact that children aren’t playing with the equipment for its intended purpose. Frankly this is a good thing, this means that children are using their imaginations, creating their own worlds using their curiosity and abilities to learn more about their surroundings. As parents we see our children using imaginary play all the time. The playground is a great place for children to create new worlds and play as they see fit.
Let’s look at the other issue here. Frankly, if kids want to play in the playground then that’s great; If they want to play in the mud, bushes and grass then that’s great. I think most parents are with me on this, I doubt that there are many parents out there who would force their children to stay within the bounds of playgrounds. Most playgrounds are in parks and so are surrounded by nature any ways, so an idea could be to plan to spend 50% of your time in the playground and 50% of your time available playing in the park.
I do agree with the study, in that we have over-safety proofed our playgrounds. Where have all those high slides of my childhood gone? Children learn so much from meeting physical challenges at play. I agree that more nature is better in the play environment. Hopefully from this study, some really fun, natural play spaces will emerge in a park near you!
I am excited to announce that we will be presenting a short seminar on “Learning in the Home.”- Simple things that parents can do in the home to help their children learn to read and write.
We will be presenting it at the Mom Connection event happening on Dec 9th at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House. For more information see www.momconnection.ca
Want to get a better sense of our products? Notch Hill will have a stall at the Gingerbread Show in aid of Make a Wish Foundation onNovember 12 & 13. Come one come all! There will be fabulous foods, cool crafts and the entries for a Gingerbread House competition. For more information click here
Exciting news…I’ve been picked as an Entrepeneur to watch, by VancouverMom.ca check out the full article here.
We’ll be at the British Columbia Primary Teachers Association Conference coming up on Oct 22 & 23. Hope to see you there!
Looking for an independent review of our products? Yoyomama recently reviewed The Nogs of Notch Hill. Here’s what they thought of us.
On our theme of supporting good people we know, we’d like to give a big “thumbs up” to Shelley Davies from Details Modern Order. Shelley is the kind of angel that will come to your house and help you sort through the chaos that we all create, but are too busy to organize. If some people have “the touch” then Shelley has it in bucket loads, somehow she can create beauty out of even the most awkward spaces. She’s been written up lots in the media and has been known to have organised some local celebrities too. Here are some before and after pictures of a cupboard that she organised. Shelley can be found at www.detailsmodernorder.com
We are excited to announce that we will be at the ECE BC Conference, May 27-29 2010 in Richmond.
I’m starting a thread here in the blog on other businesses that we at Notch Hill endorse because they have great philosophies, have amazing products or are just in general super cool people.
So it is appropriate that the first company seems to fit into all these categories.
Four Quarters Finance seem to come from similar roots to us here at Notch Hill. They believe in the concept of play being a powerful way to teach kids. Like us they are also passionate about literacy, but in their case they are passionate about financial literacy. They have 3 financial literacy packs designed for different age groups. I love the idea of teaching kids from an early age that it is important to save a portion of their money for themselves and a portion of their money to give away.
Check out their website at www.fourquartersfinance.com you will also find them at the BC Home School Conference in early June.
Article in the Vancouver Province Click Here to read it