Glen Education Rowen St
Balancing physical safety with the need for risky play
By Tiffany Borg, Early Childhood Teacher
Term 3 has flown by with experiencing the changes from Winter into Spring. The changes of the Wurundjeri seasons are Waring season (Wombat Season) into the Guling (Orchard Season). We have experienced looking at varieties of wattle and where these can be found noting them as our national emblem.
Our outdoor exploration at Rowen Street enables children to feel safe and comfortable in their environment. This is achieved through active supervision by staff and creating a feeling that this is the children's space. They have access to materials in the shed and freedom to create their play experiences using a range of flexible items including blocks, material pieces, sand, mud, crash mats, wheelbarrows, hoops and balls.
During the design of our new playground, a lot of consideration was taken into account for natural materials providing opportunities for balance. Whilst our obstacle course and monkey bars enable children to explore height and balance, the surfaces are even and lack different textures and uneven stepping. Incorporating logs and rocks have given children areas for managing uneven surfaces and using vision and coordination.
Play Australia have developed a Risky Play Position Statement which states:
The Position Statement recognises the importance of risky play for all children’s health and wellbeing. However, the Position Statement intentionally focuses on children aged birth to 8 years. The first eight years of life is a critical time for overall child development including, the development of risk literacy skills, risk management skills and a healthy appetite for risk. Children during this period are receptive towards change and challenge; and, the skills developed during this time form the foundation for decision-making as they gain independence in later years. (Risky Play Position Statement, Play Australia)
Educators at Glen Rowen Street Kindergarten understand the importance of risk taking in play and providing opportunities for children to take safe risks. Discussing risks with children during their play assists them to think about safe choices whilst extending their problem solving skills. Some examples of this have been: "How high should the blocks be built to keep everyone safe?" "How high should we go up in the tree?" "How many children should go on the slide at one time to be safe?" "How do we safely use a metal shovel in the mud patch?" We have been involving the children in open discussions about how to stay safe and keep others safe. This has created expectations for safety in our space.
Risk taking is not only physical at kindergarten. We have also discussed being brave which involves taking risks in other ways such as trying new activities. Using feelings as a starting point, educators have talked about feeling scared and nervous and that this is okay. It is important to try new things too and build ourselves up to try new challenges. This goes a long way in life to progress and feel confident and happy as we achieve new goals.