Playground hits motherlode of fun

Old-fashioned fun is back in style at Okaiawa Preschool at Matapu's new playground.

The recently renovated playground features a big mudpit, which unsurprisingly is very popular with the preschool's 45 children, according to senior teacher Mel Ogle.

The upgraded playground is designed to incorporate as many natural elements as possible, and foster creative play.

What you won't see in the playground is any concession to political correctness - there is a small river, giant boulders and lots of trees which, in time, will grow large enough for children to climb, as well as a zoom slide.

"Sometimes in today's world children can be wrapped in cotton wool a lot, and this playground definitely isn't about that. It provides old-fashioned fun and learning in a safe environment, and is a great fit with our centre's belief that natural play provides all-round benefits for children. It helps with physical and emotional development, and building social connections," says Mel.

It's not only the teachers who love the new playground, 4-year-old Oscar Baylis says that the big slide and climbing web are his favourites. "I can pretend to be like a spider," he says putting his hands behind his back to demonstrate how he spider-walks on the web.

The playground upgrade was initiated by the preschool's teaching team, and everyone from the children to parents were consulted about what the playground should include.

Children were asked to draw pictures of what they'd like in the playground and while not all of their suggestions were included - including a swimming pool and ice-cream shop - the new design incorporates many of their ideas.

"Our twisty slide came about from children's suggestions and the river is a compromise on the swimming pool idea.

"You only have to look at the children's faces to see how much they love the new environment."

Grace Kilpatrick, 3, enjoys "swimming" in the river and four-year-old Olly Perret loves the sandpit: "I can dig and dig and dig to find buried treasure," he says.

The two new playground-sized buildings - whare iti (little house) and wharenui (big house) - are turned by the children into something new each day, like a milking shed, a shop or wherever their imagination takes them.

The Okaiawa preschool's philosophy and approach is popular with parents, some of whom travel from Stratford, Cardiff and Mahoe to send their children to the centre, and while there is regularly a waiting list to attend, there are spaces available on the Te Awa Sessions (4-year-old sessions), says Mel.