Talking about challenges with outdoor play
Hello ECE Champions!
We hope you enjoy the summer and make the most of the warm days by indulging in some outdoor activities.
It is time for our second blog post (drumrolls!). For this post, we suggest discussing the challenges you encounter during outdoor play with children. Are there specific activities that you struggle with? Or any issues with the materials that you face? Maybe there are other concerns that you may have. Let’s take this opportunity to talk about it all, and who knows, you may find that you are not the only one struggling and/or collectively, we can find solutions by sharing ideas.
We look forward to reading your blog posts.
Warm Regards,
Debra and Simran
I find myself struggling to come up with a specific challenge or concern. I know there are some and I know during the height of the pandemic I could have come up with many challenges but now that things are starting to normalize it feels like our outdoor space is becoming what it use to be. I'm very interested to hear challenges and concern from others so we can open up a discussion. I'm always looking to improve our outdoor environment.
ReplyDeleteHappy to know that things are getting back to normal with regard to outdoor play. We have some new members in the blog and look forward to them sharing their challenges. Thanks for sharing, Leanne.
ReplyDeleteSome of the challenges I find in programming for outdoor time include:
ReplyDelete- lack of materials (biggest struggle)
- broken/ stolen materials
- engaging the group in activities (Preschoolers seem to think this time is a free-for-all and do not often wish to do a planned activity)
- storage for materials (lack of)
-not having a budget to purchase new materials (or a budget that only gets the necessities that were broken months previous - nothing new!)
- weather: children's parents do not send them in appropriate gear despite how many reminders and requests are made
- weather: children complain and cry when weather is not ideal as they are not used to being out in anything less that beautiful
- we were finally provided a new outdoor space: the old one was all asphalt, with a wooden pergola over top of a wooden 'deck' and sandbox. Now we have artificial grass, surrounded by rubber 'asphalt,' and a little section of rubber 'wood chips.' We have three planter boxes that are at chest height of most of our children. The yard surrounding us has a field and trees, so in the distance we see real nature.
- our materials include riding push bikes, cope cars, large Legos, sand toys, trucks, a few books; in the winter we provide hockey sticks, shovels, and sleds to share but only provided it snows: I find this to be uninspiring for myself to use, I can only image how uninspired the children are....
-staff (including myself!) take the outside time as an opportunity to 'breath' and hang back to supervise rather than engage in play
- I recently did an outdoor pedagogy training provided through work and found it very inspiring and interesting. I immediately felt a sense of disappointment and feeling of being overwhelmed. I would LOVE to have the ability to overhaul our space and add in ALL the ideas that sparked my excitement. I just don't have any idea on how or where to start.
- our program requirements do not necessarily always have to relate to the main interest in the room; however, we should have the interest reflected outside. I find this challenging for most interests.
I *think* that is everything.... Its seems like a long list/ rant. I would love some feedback, suggestions, or commissary!
Lots of challenges Amanda! You bring up an interest of mine - this idea of 'real' versus 'faux' nature. Any chance you are able to use the field? Shifts in pedagogy can be slow and incremental - no need to change everything all at once. What would be the 1 thing you'd like to change - a small thing? Small things can add up into a big thing. But let's all brainstorm some ideas on 'small' things. My small thing would be to change the orientation - hang things vertical on the fence for the children to use (mystery type of bags over the fence also work for great guessing and then showing 1 item at a time). Any materials work. Other ideas?
DeleteI do have a few ideas on Pinterest Amanda if you want to check them out - https://www.pinterest.ca/BrockBECE/vertical-outdoor-play/
DeleteI know we used to use the field and then were told not to by our Ministry contact (no walks around the school) unless we were in trip ratio and had trip forms signed. I will definitely inquire with my Supervisor about this again though. I love the idea of hanging things on the fence. I will brainstorm with my colleagues and try to add some new handing pots/ pans/ baskets with natural items in the next week or so. I also will take a look at the ideas in the Pinterest post. Thank you for sharing!
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