New nature play garden: Sophia Thomas, Jarvis Balding, Harry Hale and Stella Fiorito enjoy the new equipment at Halls Head Primary School. Photo: Supplied.
A new addition to Halls Head Primary School's playground can be found in the pre-primary area.
The school has invested funds to provide some natural play structures for the pre-primary children to access and use.
This will encourage nature play by including play based learning as part of the Education Department's success for all students focus for 2019.
A growing body of research suggests that:
- Children's disconnection with nature may be associated with an epidemic of childhood obesity, childhood diabetes, behaviour disorders, depression and a diminished sense of place and community.
- Heightened health problems, higher stress and aggression, reduced cognitive and creative capacities, lower school achievement, blighted sense of efficacy and diminished productivity are among the possible associated negative impacts.
- Children's cognitive flexibility and creativity are enhanced if they have the experience in childhood to problem-solve in natural settings.
- There are mental health benefits to be gained from nature play, ranging from higher self-esteem to reduced characteristics of attention-deficit disorder, more self-discipline, higher school achievement, a greater sense of efficacy and less stress.
- Children benefit from appropriate risk-taking during outdoor play, by helping them refine their motor skills and gain confidence in being physically active.
- School gardens positively affect children's learning and behaviour, and students involved in gardening develop a better school attitude, student bonding and teamwork.
When next at the school don't forget to take a look at our new play areas.
Marg Pantall is from Halls Head Primary School
