|
Children's
centres equipment: What I really want for my centre is ...
Published on
24 May 2006,
Children Now
Children's centres are about more
than multi-agency working; they should be safe and fun too, says Suzy
Bashford.
For many early years professionals
involved in the building and development of children's centres, life
will consist of meetings, discussions and lists about blueprints,
bricks, and construction deadlines.
So perhaps it's not surprising that
toys and other play equipment haven't yet made it to the top of these
lists. But for the children who attend these centres, the opportunities
to play and have fun will be the setting's most important appeal.
According to Martin Rimes, design
and marketing director at Community Playthings, which designs and
manufactures furniture and toys and which has produced a number of
guides for early years professionals on how to create effective spaces,
the first issue to consider is the "mood" of a centre.
"It's most important to think
through the flow of traffic from one space to another so that it is a
natural flow and does not inhibit movement," he says. "The area needs to
feel relaxed and not chaotic, because if there is a mass of not just
equipment but materials a child's peace of mind is disturbed and it
becomes too much for them."
As a result, Rimes believes centre
staff need to create child-friendly environments where equipment and
space work together to promote fun and learning. "We need to make
environments where children are truly at home so they can relax and
play, as research shows that only when a child feels safe and secure can
he or she learn and explore," says Rimes.
From the traditional climbing frame
to voice-controlled child-friendly computers, it's well worth spending
some time picking products that will support this philosophy of a fun,
safe learning space, while ensuring that they don't detract from the
experience of the children that troop through the centre's doors on a
regular basis.
So this
feature takes a look at those products that children's centre managers
and their local authority colleagues have already road tested to ensure
their settings are not only fun, but are educational too.
Parental Webcam
This
is a secure webcam that allows parents to view live video images of
their children in early years settings securely over the internet.
Cameras are fitted in the nursery, are plugged into a video server then
delivered via a high-speed internet connection. Available from:
NurseryCam. Contact: 01344 751 688 or
www.nurserycam.co.uk. Price:
2,890pounds+VAT for system with eight cameras. Interest-free option available
Ballaby Play Table
Ballaby Play Tables encourage motor co-ordination, visual memory and
patterning skills and are designed to go in a play corner. There are
eight versions to choose from; this is a motor-racing game featuring
buildings, trees, mountains, lakes and tunnels. Available from: Instore
Kidsplay Contact: 01202 890 500 or
www.instorekidsplay.co.uk.
Price: Range from 595.74pounds+VAT; featured table 680pounds+VAT
Yellowstone Play Computer
Designed for children aged three and over, this touch-screen
computer offers five game groups including memory games, colouring, spot
the difference and finger painting. The computer speaks and is voice
controlled. Available from: Instore Kidsplay Contact: 01202 890 500 or
www.instorekidsplay.co.uk.
Price: 2,042pounds+VAT
Toddlerzone
This climbing frame range is modular so you can design your own frame or
buy a standard unit. The range was designed with inclusion in mind and
some units have built-in features to allow access for all. Available
from: Sutcliffe Play. Contact: 01977 653 200 or
www.sutcliffeplay.co.uk.
Price: Ranges from 2,000pounds
for a basic fence panel to 12,000pounds for the largest unit
Kritter table and chairs
The colourful Kritter table and chairs feature animal cutouts on the
back of the chairs, are easy to clean and are made of responsibly
sourced rubberwood. Available from: Ikea. Contact:
www.ikea.com. Price: 24.99pounds
for the table and 12.49pounds for each chair
Plasticine
Plasticine has had a complete makeover; it doesn't have to be kept air
tight and will not dry out, so it can be used time and time again.
Distributed by Flair, the organisation has developed kits that
incorporate popular themes with easy-to-do projects, such as Plasticine
Master Crafter, Jungle Fun, and 24 Stick Rainbow Packs. Available from:
Flair. Contact: 020 8643 0320 or
www.flairplc.co.uk. Price: From 99pounds
Tiny Love Gymini Total Playground
As recommended by the Good Toy Guide, this baby-activated
developmental toy features a kick-and-play pad, classical music and 17
activities. Suitable from birth. Available from: East Coast Nursery.
Contact: 01692 408 802 or www.eastcoastnursery.co.uk. Price: 54.99pounds
Connex Modular Play Unit
These mix-and-match units are designed so they can be installed into
centres without the need for additional equipment or training. A unit
such as the one pictured, which costs approximately £7,500, should take
no more than three hours to assemble. Available from: SPI Play Contact:
01978 668 067 or www.spiplay.com.
Price: Varies depending on unit
Roomscapes
Roomscapes child-sized furniture from Community Playthings enables
centres to be flexible with their room layouts through a system of
joining shelves and panels. Available from: Community Playthings.
Contact 0800 387 457 or
www.communityplaythings.co.uk. Price: Varies depending on
version
Playworks
Playworks furniture is designed to aid role play; the units can be
adapted so that a single piece of furniture can change from being part
of a restaurant to an office to a hairdresser to provide richer play
experiences for children. Available from: Community Playthings. Contact:
0800 387 457 or
www.communityplaythings.co.uk. Price: Varies depending on
version
Tolo Tractor and Trailer with Cow
This award-winning product won gold in the National Association of
Toy Lending Libraries Good Toy Awards and also in the Practical
Pre-School Awards. This moving tractor comes complete with realistic
sounds and has a removable driver and accompanying cow. Available from:
John Crane Contact: 01604 774 949 or
www.johncranetoys.co.uk.
Price: From 29.99pounds
Weather Window and Number Rhymes
Bag
Active Designs' Weather Window is a way of visually recording the
day and weather using symbols and labels. Number Rhymes is a bag full of
rhymes, numbers, green bottles, toy sausages, ducks and fish, and is
designed to encourage group play, while improving numeracy and literacy
skills. Available from: Active Designs Contact: 01327 858 522 or
www.activedesigns.co.uk.
Price: 29.95pounds+VAT
(Weather Window), 27.50pounds+VAT (Number Rhymes Bag)
Lucky Grass
This all-weather turf looks and feels like grass but water goes straight
through, it doesn't get muddy or slippery and babies can easily crawl on
it. Available from: Lucky Grass. Contact: 020 7693 5073 or
www.luckygrass.net. Price: On
application
Kitchen Combo
The Pintoy Kitchen Combo Unit is made out of environmentally friendly
rubberwood and comes complete with refrigerator, washing machine and
other realistic components. Available from: John Crane Contact: 01604
774 949 or
www.johncranetoys.co.uk. Price: From 90pounds
|
