Jasmine's mother has been taking her to an activity centre called the Zany Zone. She runs confidently across the soft play blocks, pushes her way through the hanging soft play columns and poles, and walks without concern over the safety netting floors, holding mummy's hand. Jasmine is less sure of the ball pool, tending to stay at the side. But she enjoys handling the balls, throwing and rolling them along the floor. She also likes to tidy them up by putting the stray balls back in the pool.
The soft play tunnel is also very much enjoyed by Jasmine, as is the large slide that she asks for repeatedly, sliding down it with mummy.
At home Jasmine has now started to really enjoy her rocking horse, often riding it backwards, and sometimes without holding on. She can climb on and off the sofa quite confidently, and leaps off on to large beanbags, laughing at her achievement.
Questions
1 How might Jasmine's interest in the family pets help her development?
2 Why is supervision so important in activity areas?
3 How might the Zany Zone have contributed to Jasmine's physical development?
Answers to part 16 questions (15 August)
1 When Jasmine positions the 'keep safe' strap attached to her pushchair on to her toy or cup, waiting for them to be secured, she is demonstrating understanding and memory (cognitive development), together with manipulative dexterity (physical development).
2 It is important for shoes to be properly fitted as children's bones are still forming, and feet can be damaged by cramped or ill-fitting footwear.
Whenever possible, children's shoes should be made of natural materials to allow their feet to breathe, and there should be sufficient room for growth in shoes, slippers, socks and babygros.
3 The main concern with the MMR immunisation has been a suggestion that some children have developed autism and/or bowel disorders afterwards. The subsequent drop in the numbers being immunised has raised fears of outbreaks of measles, mumps and rubella, and being unable to control these illnesses through herd immunity.
By Sandy Green, an early years consultant and freelance trainer. She is also Jasmine's grandmother
