The outdoor environment is a great place for children to challenge
themselves and learn to take responsible risks.
The teaching team recognised the benefits of having longer parallel bars
and commissioned a local engineering shop to manufacture these. When the longer parallel bars arrived at
kindergarten and were introduced to the children they appeared keen to have a
turn to show what they can do or challenge themselves to try something new.
“Movement is at the very core of
how children develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, and of course,
physically. A moving child is a learning
child”. (Gill Connell, Moving Smart,
2011).
The addition of longer parallel bars has created plenty of opportunities
for our tamariki to physically and mentally challenge themselves. It is a fantastic resource as it can be
physically demanding, provides opportunities to take responsible risks, as well
as use their imaginations.
“Adventurers and enquiring minds
are nurtured from the early years, they are encouraged to keep trying, never
rescued but expected to go further, to seek new ways of thinking and
doing. Adventurers are encouraged to be
dreamers, to think of what is possible, to challenge what is known and
unknown”. (National Quality
Standards, 2013).
Over time I have been privileged to observe our tamariki build their confidence
to explore and test their own capacities to challenge themselves to let go
while hanging upside down, stand on top of the bars or find different ways to
get across the parallel bars.
According to Koringa Hihiko Active Movement “Children love to hang, swing and climb and it’s great for them. These active movements experiences help to
develop strong muscles in the shoulders, arms, hands and fingers (upper body
strength).” (Sport and Recreation
New Zealand, 2012).
I enjoy observing the children build and develop their muscle control
and strength to be physically able to move and hang on the parallel bars in
different ways than previously able. The
look of accomplishment and celebrating success on a child face is priceless.
“Face a
challenge and find joy in the capacity to meet it”. Ayn Rand.
Here are some comments from the children.
“I’m a koala bear sleeping in the
day time”. Payton
“Doing flips, flips are easy peasy”.
Tiaki
“I got up
here by myself”. Kayla
“I’m going
to swing on these bars, tricks are good, it’s my favourite thing to do”. Peter
“Slippee, slide across on my
bum”. Wyatt
“I can
flip upside down and let both hands touch the ground”. Liam
“You know
I can stand up here ‘cause I did gymnastics”.
Livia
“Look, I’m
not scared standing up here”. Khaia
“…the more
risks you allow children to take, the better they learn to take care of
themselves. If you never let them take
any risks, then I believe they become very prone to injury. I like the type of child who takes risks. Better by far than the one who never does so.” Roald Dahl
Ngā mihi, Susie
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