Resources
Once upon a time, we trawled educational resource catalogues for tea sets, painting sets, equipment ‘specifically designed’ for language, literacy, numeracy, science, arts, crafts, physical education, etc. We still do, to a certain degree. There are a lot of amazing resources like Lego, Mobilo, puzzles, blocks, butterfly wings, puppets, etc. But cast your mind back to being a child and didn’t you really want to get your hands on the tools that were real?
With that in mind, and with our sustainability hat on, we mostly source our resources from second hands shops, supplier cast offs, or choose real items.
You will find our sandpit certainly has toy trucks, cars and diggers, but we choose good quality second hand where we can and they are made from natural resources that can degrade over time. Our sandpit is also filled, with pots, pans, trays, colanders, spades, utensils, loose parts, etc. All real and just what children love to handle. In a nutshell, we avoid plastic – especially if it is new and we could replace it with natural materials, or plastic that is already in our environment.
Our home corner has a real bed, chest of draws, dress ups, blankets, mirror, etc. All real items from real homes, and our tamariki bring in the imagination.
Our art area has art selected and displayed in picture frames, which changes regularly. Our art supplies are child accessible and held in a chest of draws and we do art on a home sized table, with home sized chairs. Our paints and water are mixed and displayed in glass jars. Very occasionally, one drops on the floor and breaks. All of our tamariki know what to do. They don’t move, they call a kaitiaki, who immediately clears it up and makes it safe again. Glass goes in the recycling bin. Our tuakana (older tamariki) guide our teina (younger, or new tamariki) what to do when they see a hazard.
Any new bought resources at our centre will be made from natural materials, and a lot of our resources are recycled or repurposed loose parts. Our tamariki build and create structures using cogs, crates, blankets, cushions, planks, etc. It is incredible to see what they make from their observations of real life in action, brought together with loose parts they have seen before and not been able to get their hands on.
Resources in centres are replaced often, because if they are good resources, they are used a lot. However, this can be reduced significantly by using resources with respect, taking care of them, putting them away when finished. We focus on using resources with respect and taking care of them. If something is valued, it is taken care of, and it has a longer life. We teach children this as a life philosophy at our centre, at their homes, and in their community.