This article has been written by OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ Childminders, Chloe Webster & Bridgit Brown, from Pebbles Childcare. In this blog they share their experiences with having a limited outdoor space and share their tips on how to maximise the space you have.
Pebbles Childcare is based in Worthing, West Sussex, offering a professional and individual service for families and their children aged 0-8yrs. To learn more about Pebbles Childcare then head to their Facebook page.
Our space
As a home-based childcare provision, we are not blessed with significant amounts of space or a large sum of money to put into buying a range of outdoor resources. However, we are huge advocates of utilising the space we have and using a diverse range of equipment and resources in order to meet the learning and development needs of the children in our care.
We do this by focusing on the children’s current interests and how we can use resources we already possess in order to provide a stimulating yet challenging and beneficial outdoor learning environment.
Setting up your outdoor space
We started by spending our small budget on key garden equipment, such as a tuff spot, water channel stands and magnifying glasses. The idea was to then use this equipment together with other natural and free resources to set up our outdoor environment.
Creating challenges for physical development
Many of our children are now beginning to show an interest in challenging themselves physically. In the absence of trees to climb or a climbing frame, we looked at how we could provide challenge and risk.
We provided the children with long planks of wood and challenged them to create their own obstacle courses. Supplementing the planks with outdoor chalks we drew patterns on the floor for children to follow and move along as part of their obstacle course.
Similarly, we were keen to provide children with opportunities to develop fine motor as well as gross motor skills. e provided the children with a tuff spot full of different herbs, scissors, rocks and paper. The open ended nature of this set up allowed children to explore the different materials and take part in activities such as cutting or mark making. All the while unintentionally developing their fine motor skills.
Children are also able to explore risk whilst promoting their fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination through our woodwork/construction activities. Here children are supported in using a range of real life tools and off cuts of wood to create structures.
Creating space for Expressive Arts and Design
We use paintbrushes and buckets of water to encourage mark-making on the floor and the door of our large garage. This works just as well when using chalks and is a great way for children to engage in arts and crafts without needing any particular workspaces. Children have the freedom to create their masterpieces wherever suits them.
Transient zones for learning
Another way we make use of our limited space is to have multipurpose zones. For example, our mud kitchen provides children with endless opportunities. Not only for imaginative play and language development. But also for maths learning as they discuss quantities, measure liquids and discuss the shapes of their creations.
Similarly our growing area firstly offers children the responsibility of planting and tending to their own plants. But also mathematical opportunities for who’s plant has grown the most, and physical development via planting.
Conclusions
Some final thoughts on how we use our outdoor space and our recommendations:
- Our outdoor space changes daily to meet the children’s learning and development needs and interests.
- It is important to incorporate an array of ‘loose parts’ and re-usable and flexible resources.
- Provide children with the freedom to use resources and “zones” as they wish.
- You will benefit from this approach as will your children as they explore freely.
Explore the Early Years Resources Childminders Selection for Outdoor Play Resources to enhance your outdoor learning area. We would love to see and hear ways in which you maximise your outdoor space. Share with us on social media by using the hashtag #ExploreWithEYR
