In this area there is normally at least one staff member or student sitting on the edge or in the sandpit with the children, making sure all children are safe. For the climbing its down in the sandpit with a soft landing if they chose to jump off or lose their footing, staff are there to ensure they are careful but also letting them learn their own safety aspects within reason. Like letting them jump off the box into the sand, gives the child the power for their own learning, someone is there if the child needs to hold a hand to help them.
There is a shed with all the digging toys, buckets, spades, trucks, sand wheels, and more. The children have access to this when its open to get out what they would like to use with what has been put out.
Each day there is a different set up and the toddlers can ask for something else to come out or move things around, such as climbing boxes with planks that come off the boxes. One child decided to move a plank (with help) off a blue step up to the sand so it made a slide. The children love climbing in the sand pit.
There is so much learning going on in this play area, including digging and putting sand into buckets, onto walls, on hands and just picking it up to drop. Teachers sit with the children building, digging as this encourages the children to get involved by knocking down castles or adding extra sand to the top of the castles that are made by the teachers, as the children seem to enjoy this getting done "children experience an environment where their play is valued as meaningful learning and the importance of spontaneous play is recognised" (Ministry or education, 1996, p. 84).
Another thing in this area are swings, there are hook at the top for a couple of swings to be attached, children will often point to the hooks asking for the swings and going to the shed where they are stored. By letting the child decide and the teacher to help them get what they are asking for gives "the confidence and ability to express their ideas and to assist others" (Ministry of Education, 1996).
Each day there is a different set up and the toddlers can ask for something else to come out or move things around, such as climbing boxes with planks that come off the boxes. One child decided to move a plank (with help) off a blue step up to the sand so it made a slide. The children love climbing in the sand pit.
Another day, this was asked by a child if we could put up the wood, the child was confidence to ask for materials to build what he had in mind. The child knew what he wanted and where he wanted the items to go. (Ministry of Education, 1996)
There is so much learning going on in this play area, including digging and putting sand into buckets, onto walls, on hands and just picking it up to drop. Teachers sit with the children building, digging as this encourages the children to get involved by knocking down castles or adding extra sand to the top of the castles that are made by the teachers, as the children seem to enjoy this getting done "children experience an environment where their play is valued as meaningful learning and the importance of spontaneous play is recognised" (Ministry or education, 1996, p. 84).
Another thing in this area are swings, there are hook at the top for a couple of swings to be attached, children will often point to the hooks asking for the swings and going to the shed where they are stored. By letting the child decide and the teacher to help them get what they are asking for gives "the confidence and ability to express their ideas and to assist others" (Ministry of Education, 1996).
Reference:
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki matauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
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