This is taken from a Play England website;
"Sand, water, boulders and fallen trees are all great things to leave about to stimulate play in a park or school playground. I have heard apparently sane people give the opinion that sand is dangerous for children, they are simply wrong. The beach is one of the finest natural play environments, just build a sand-boat to sit in when the tide comes in, or add a small stream flowing across it to be dammed up, and I could play all day."
Children know what is interesting when they see it. (Pyle 2002)
RoSPA states the following on their website:
'Sand is one of the most popular - and developmentally appropriate - pieces of equipment which can be provided on a children’s playground. It provides:
opportunities for creative and construction play
opportunities for fine-tuning physical movements'
RoSPA recommends that 'wherever possible the sandpit should be an odd or irregular shape to offer a range of spaces within the area to allow for quiet secluded areas for individual play. Small platforms for putting things on (for example, sandcastles) can be provided'.
In our new playground the boulders in the sand pit will act as small tables and/or seats to enhance children's overall play experience.
The sand we are using in our new playground is fine rounded play sand and complies to BS5665. Sand is by its very nature non slippery. The main risk associated with sand and sand play is if children get it in their eyes therefore children should be actively discouraged by their carers to throw sand. Sand, pebbles and boulders can be found in nature and children have enjoyed playing in these environments for many years and we are delighted that we are able to recreate this environment in our new playground.
Please look at the following link for examples of other playgrounds where sand has successfully been included in public play spaces
www.playengland.org.uk/resources/design-for-play-introduction.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment