Playground Ideas, Finalists: Not-for-Profit Technology Innovator of the Year ?
By Jeni Wilson This article explores 2 types of alternative learning; Montessori and Steiner (or Waldorf), and how they can benefit the student. Both have maintained popularity over time and are similar in their child or student-centred curriculum that values both curiosity and play. Choice Choosing the right type of education for your child is […]
Read moreBy Jeni Wilson Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth (Ginsburg, 2007). But the role of the teacher/adult in play, though important, is often misunderstood. The temptation for teacher/adults is often to do things for kids or to tell them what to […]
Read moreBy Jeni Wilson Luckily, Creativity, Curiosity and Imagination are innate. However, these skills and dispositions, so highly regarded in preschools, are often neglected as children grow older. Teachers often complain about a crowded curriculum and therefore, in practice, the basics get priority. Play and other contexts for developing these skills and dispositions are the poor […]
Read moreBy Jeni Wilson A net is a veil, a stick is a crutch for an injured soldier… today that is. Tomorrow… who knows? The loose parts available during play provide students with limitless possibilities for invigorating play, stimulating imaginations and enhancing curiosity. In short, loose parts play kits can be used during play to learn […]
Read moreBy Jeni Wilson. Play should be a fundamental part of learning. With rapidly changing technology and current health issues, direct social interactions have already been reducing. Anecdotally, teachers and parents frequently comment on children’s reduced ability to cooperate with others. They lack focus, empathy and resilience. They are simply not playing enough. These capabilities and more, […]
Read moreBy Dr Jeni Wilson Student voice and student agency are most certainly the buzz words and school priorities for 2020 and beyond. Defined differently by different people and sometimes used interchangeably they are intrinsically linked and undeniably pivotal to creating student centred classrooms and student directed learning. So what does Student Voice and Student Agency […]
Read moreBy Neve Spicer Play involves imagination, creativity, and innovation. For young people, it is both fun and essential. They need play in order to flex, stretch, and grow their muscles; not only their physical ones, but also the emotional, cognitive, and imaginative muscles of their minds. But here’s the thing… We are seeing a global […]
Read moreWe think that natural elements should be a key part of any playground, not just an afterthought. It pays to start by creating a natural ‘canvas’, defining the main pathways where people will transition through the site (‘desire’ lines) and then create natural elements around that. Think about this from the start and then design […]
Read moreToddlers are bundles of energy. They’re constantly squirming, crawling, spinning, and jumping. Playgrounds can be great environments for toddlers to play, challenge their abilities and engage their senses. But play spaces often require a bit more intention in design to make them appropriate and fun for younger kids. We’ve put together a collection of ten […]
Read moreBuilding your own playground can be a daunting task. Whether it’s to be part of a school, an early childhood centre, or as part of a community you’re involved with, there is much to think about. How do I work with the community to ensure that they and their needs are at the centre of […]
Read moreOn November 7th 2017, Playground Ideas’ impact reached 1 MILLION children. And 2018 also marks Playground Ideas’ ten year anniversary! In that time, over 2147 communities have built play spaces to improve their children’s education, health and long term life outcomes. Communities everywhere, in 143 countries have used our support and resources. In 2005 Marcus, […]
Read moreSoon after Playground Ideas began, we realised that we were not the only people building playgrounds. We started discovering like-minded individuals and organisations all over the globe, and we decided to create a network, believing that we could do more work, and better work, together than we could apart. And so the Global Play Alliance […]
Read more
