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Report RE: soil?
Original Post
RE: soil? - 22-04-08 16:33
by: Millie
Hi Fay86
It is so sad that you are having to pose this question.
Children should be able to do what they are good at and that means playing outdoors with natural materials, such as soil.
This will enable practitioners to aid children with more kinaesthetic learning styles to access the otherwise staid curriculum indoors.
Where nurseries are not allowing children to take risks like these they are preventing them from learning important life skills. Playing outdoors with natural materials such as soil enhances the child's development, strengthening finger muscles and upper arm muscles aiding writing skills and above all provides them with knowledge and understanding of the world. Add tools such as water, containers and digging implements, bark, sand, gravel the list is endless. As a practitioner you will be on hand to ensure Health and Safety issues are addressed, in relation to the children's overall welfare (by making sure gravel and materials are not put in mouth etc., and materials are age appropriate).
You will also find that this type of play, indoors or outdoors will enhance their emotional well-being.
If your Manager thinks soil poses a serious risk, suggest that they purcahse some child sized gardening gloves! But remember a good setting will have a clear hygiene policy and hands can be washed!!!