Welcoming Children’s Voices When Setting Up A Play Space
A recent sensory play experience at Only About Children Mernda sparked excitement, curiosity and collaboration as children worked together to create a shared learning environment.
As a tuff tray was introduced, several children gathered around and enthusiastically asked if they could have water play in the tray. This simple question became the starting point for a rich, child-led experience.
Following the children’s interests, Educators encouraged them to share ideas about what could be included. The children suggested adding leaves and began collecting natural materials, including leaves and gumnuts, to place in the water. They also explored nearby plants and identified additional materials they thought would enhance the experience.
As the play evolved, the children proposed creating water around the tray using foil to represent a flowing river. This idea connected to a recent Science Week project, where the children had explored and experimented with foil while creating a rocket. They enthusiastically shaped and arranged the foil, observing how it reflected light and resembled moving water.
The children then suggested colouring the water blue. Once the colour was added, one child observed that it looked like fish swimming in the water. This sparked further discussion, leading to the introduction of water animals and the creation of an imaginative river habitat.
Throughout the experience, the children demonstrated curiosity, creativity and collaboration as they shared ideas, connected new experiences to previous learning and worked together to bring their vision to life.
By valuing children’s voices and following their interests, our educators create meaningful opportunities for learning that encourage exploration, imagination and a strong sense of belonging.
