Description

The baby-friendly natural play space at this Early Head Start Center offers a gentle invitation to the youngest children to explore and discover large and small spaces, active and quiet spaces, places for outdoor building and creating and spots for imaginary, sensory and physical play.

Adjacent to a new set of toddler height steps, a ball roll is built into the handrail so children can explore gravity by rolling balls down the channel.

The steps connect to the loop path which carries foot and riding toy traffic around the space, connecting a variety of elements to support children and adults spending time in the out-of-doors. The multi-textured circular path includes sections of inset brick, river rock, sparkling colorful gems, various shaped pavers, tree cookies and leaf imprints that draw children through the space. Toddling, running or wheeling over this variety of textures will provide a range of tactile and auditory experiences.

The first area one encounters along the path is a quiet grassy corner with a low hammock that can hold one or two children, a child and an adult, or a tired teacher at break time. The hammock offers a calming place for gentle rocking.

A child-height marimba as well as bells hanging from the tree above adds a dimension of soft sound, made by children and by the wind. Throughout the space, mobiles, wind socks, sparkly CD’s and beads hanging from above add motion and color.

Further along the sensory path in the southwest corner of the space there is a large sand area for digging and engineering. The sand area is edged with natural logs and boulders and pickable plants and includes a log table that provides a rustic horizontal work surface for pretend cooking and meals. A water tower connected to a wooden trough provides the option of wet sand and the sensory appeal that adds to the outdoor space.

A pair of playhouses on the edge of the sand area support imaginary play, language and social interactions.

The active play area includes a tunnel for crawling through and a constructed hill with an embankment slide and a stump scramble –a set of different height and diameter tree stumps set into the hillside for climbing.

A shelter frame can be embellished with fabric, ribbons, or other materials to create a sense of enclosure. Nearby is a swinging bench, which provides soothing movement opportunities. This is a place for children and adults to sit together for relaxing, conversation, and storytime.

In the center of the loop path is an open lawn space for crawling, toddling and running. In one portion of the lawn there are two cruising bars, pipe rails held up by wood posts to support cruising babies. Finally, a low grassy hill offers a sloping surface to climb up and roll down, a different vantage point for surveying the space and a destination for cloud watching.

Child-friendly plantings of trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials provide shade, edibles, fragrance and seasonal color throughout the space.