Amazing Playgrounds
Features to look for in a childcare centre playground.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
When you become a parent, you also become a playground expert!
You have your favourites, based on important things like all ages equipment and easy-access coffee, and the merest mention of a snazzy, new playground is enough to get you grabbing the stroller or scooter and checking it out immediately.
Indoor playcentres are also awesome, because they keep your little one busy on bad weather days, and give you a fun workout as you clamber through ball pits and tunnels!
One type of playground that you’re not so familiar with, though, is the one at your child’s prospective early learning centre.
This outdoor space is an important consideration when you’re choosing a service, and Lukas Ritson is here to explain why this playground matters, and how to tell an ‘ok’ space from an outstanding one.
Lukas is the founder of Wearthy, and he knows how much good a playground can do.
With his team, Lukas makes ahh-mazing natural playgrounds for early learning services, and he explains that a quality outdoor play environment will create opportunities for your ‘whole child’ to learn, and grow, through play.
This is because free-play in a carefully created environment is beneficial for your child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.
In a great playground, there are skills to practise, ideas to pursue and problems to solve, and Lukas says, “A thriving play environment provides your child with an opportunity to be active without being physically or emotionally restricted.”
“It also fosters a sense of belonging and connection, which are the two biggest contributors to them developing into a well-rounded adult.”
And whether they’re taking risks, taking turns or taking big handfuls of mud, play in a quality space teaches your child a lot about themselves, their peers and the world around them.
Lukas says, “A quality childcare playground will provide your under-five with opportunities to develop their communication skills through physical contact, interaction and listening, while learning about language as they explore the environment.”
For these reasons, it’s important to choose your childcare playground wisely.
Early learning playgrounds come in all shapes and sizes, but before you drill down on individual features, the first thing you need to look for is children!
Lukas says, “It may sound silly, but when I’m looking at an outdoor play environment, my number one rule is that I want to see evidence that children are using the space.”
“We call this their ‘imprint’ on the space, and the greater imprint a child can make on the space, the higher value the playground has to them.”
He explains that, “A strong imprint represents that children feel safe and secure to explore and experience what the world has to offer them – both environmentally, emotionally and socially.”
Once you confirm that littlies are engaging with the playground, you can look for practical features, like shade, soft landings and sturdy construction.
Lukas says, “You want to see a mix of man-made elements and nature-based elements, which will create essential diversity of play experience.”
“Depending on the age of your child, you also want to see opportunities for them to play at height and speed, move different elements, like water, bark and sand, and have areas where they can feel secluded and hide.“
Remember, too, that a sparkly, new playground won’t necessarily leave a bigger imprint than one that’s seen a lot of action.
Upcycled materials and old-fashioned features can be great for little learners, so focus on engagement when judging the look, feel and ‘wow’ factor of a playground.
It’s also very important to tour a service in person to get a real sense of how children are responding to its outdoor play environment.
A few great playground photos in a KindiCare listing (hello Pachamama Early Education and Childcare and Fit Kidz Learning Centre Rouse Hill!) will definitely pique your interest in a centre, but make sure you book a tour (using the trusty KindiCare app) to see these spaces up close.
Once you’re on-site, also think about how your child responds to the playground.
Lukas designs outdoor play environments that will inspire curiosity and encourage children to ask questions, so if your child perks up when they see the playspace or asks, “What dat?,” these are definitely good signs!
We wish you luck finding a new favourite playground, and if you’d like to learn more about play, feel free to explore the Wearthy website.
