OUTDOOR PLAY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & RISKY PLAY POLICY

RATIONALE

The outdoor environment is vital to the health and well-being of tamariki.  Having the outdoor space to explore, experiment and move around freely increases curiosity and control over their bodies.  It helps them appreciate that physical activity, as well as risky play, is an important part of growth and development.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to highlight the importance of outdoor play for tamariki and the role it plays in Early Childhood Education.  At Curious Minds Early Learning we encourage physical activity for tamariki as a way to develop confidence and a myriad of skills including fine and gross motor, problem solving, social skills etc.  We also encourage tamariki to actively participate in risky play to support them to feel empowered and confident in their decision making and physical abilities.

REFERENCES & REGULATIONS

Te Whāriki (2017):

• Well-being/Mana Atua: Goal 1 - Children experience an environment where their health is promoted.
• Exploration/Mana autūroa: Goal 2 - Children gain confidence in and control of their bodies.

Licensing Criteria for Education & Care Services 2008 and Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework (amended 2022):

• C7: The service curriculum is inclusive, and responsive to children as confident and competent learners. Children’s preferences are respected, and they are involved in decisions about their learning experiences.
• C9: The service curriculum provides children with a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend their learning and development – both indoors and outdoors, individually and in groups.

PROCEDURES

Outdoor Play

• Kaiako respect the decisions tamariki make around their own play, providing them access to both indoor and outdoor environments throughout the day. Outdoor play and access to the outdoor environment promotes health and wellbeing. If tamariki are healthy enough to attend childcare, they are healthy enough to play outdoors. We do not exclude tamariki from playing outside.
• Exceptions are made for our non-mobile pēpi (babies) and crawlers who are not yet walking. We acknowledge that being outside, so low to the ground and exposed to the cold and wet can have adverse effects on their health. To negate this, Curious Minds Early Learning will provide opportunities for physical play indoors when it is too cold and/or wet for them to play outdoors safely.  
• Curious Minds Early Learning takes a ‘common sense’ approach to outdoor play. While tamariki have access to the outdoor environment throughout the year and across all seasons, Kaiako make on-the-spot decisions about playing outdoors based on the situation and the health and safety of tamariki.
• Parents are required to provide appropriate clothing for their tamaiti that will enable full participation in outdoor play in all weathers. Curious Minds Early Learning believe “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” Appropriate spare clothing, provided daily, is also essential.

Physical Activity

• Curious Minds Early Learning curriculum will provide daily activities that offer varying degrees of physical challenges providing opportunities for tamariki to explore and is inclusive and responsive to tamariki being confident and competent learners. They will experience an environment where their preferences and decisions around their own physical play and activity experiences are respected.
• Natural motor development is supported and tamariki are encouraged to move freely on their own as their capabilities and development allows.
• The range of physical skills developed by tamariki is extended through access to equipment such as balls, bats, balance boards, bikes and climbing equipment. We also provide access to activities including the sand pit, water play and various messy play activities to enhance both gross and fine motor skills.
• Tamariki are provided with opportunities throughout the day for climbing, balancing, kicking, throwing, jumping, running, and other locomotor movements, both indoors and outdoors. Group times also involve musical activities that encourage moving in space, moving to rhythm and being near others.
• Books and stories about the body are available for tamariki to look at and learn from.
• Curious Minds Early Learning will ensure that all physical play equipment is maintained in a safe condition and is set up to comply with all relevant safety standards.
• Kaiako and whānau are encouraged to be good role models by promoting and participating in physical activity.
• Funds are allocated for physical activity equipment and professional development.

Risky Play

• Our holistic approach to learning promotes our Centre philosophy of encouraging risky play to become part of our daily routines.
• Learning environments are regularly critiqued to suit the changing needs of tamariki.
• Risky play is built into all areas of tamaiti development;
• Physically: e.g. speed & movement,
• Emotionally: courage and persistence to try new things,
• Intellectually: problem solving,
• Socially: teamwork, building new relationships,
• Spiritually: being open to others’ beliefs and ideas.
• When tamariki are participating in risky play activities, kaiako will assess and critique the risk benefits alongside the health and safety of tamariki with them. These discussions allow tamariki to evaluate their own risk taking and identify potential risk factors themselves and how to negate these.
• Our planning and documentation reflects and identifies the many elements of risky play and how it enhances learning and development.
• Kaiako will continue to critically reflect on their own teaching practice that enhances the ideologies ingrained in risky play ie. removing limiting beliefs from their own teaching practice.

LINKS TO OTHER POLICIES & PROCEDURES:

• Centre Philosophy
• Assessment, planning and Evaluation Policy
• Health & Safety Policy
• Weekly Playground Check
• Hazard Check