Sandpit of the week

This is the sandpit at our local playgroup with I and E getting ready to play. The heavy frames leaning against the fence hold in place a couple of large tarpaulins - this seems to be effective against cats, but a bit of a pain to life out of the way.

In fact, today we spent very little time in the sandpit. E is currently fascinated with water - pouring it, carrying it, filling small containers from larger ones. I is very into spatial relationships: she puts her body into spaces (like the 'cosy coupe' ride-on cars), and she opens and closes things (door, letterbox).

I could try putting water into the sandpit for E. And I wonder how I(child) would like tipping the tip trucks in the picture?

Working bee in play area

A bit of a working bee around here this evening sorting some outside things for the Little Kids. We have finally got the sandpit cover sorted (fingers crossed). We can go a long time with no "cat problems", but have been hit (in the sandpit) more than once lately. The previous cover was of the throw-a-tarp-and-some-bricks-on-it variety. We have now gone up-scale a notch: the tarp now has hooks all round to hold it on. If the local moggie (and we know your name!!!) gets under THAT, she'll get a fright and wish she hadn't.

I also got Bern to attach a short elbow of downpipe to the back of the sandpit. The idea is to encourage the Little Kids in pouring sand - and it should work for balls too. If it works out we might extend that idea. I'll be on the scrounge for off cut lengths of downpipe for other gradient applications too, such as water, cars, etc.

The other wee job was tidying up the 'garden in a bath' by the back door. This has a nice miniature flax and a native grass ("spikey" plants), and now it has some lettuces and silverbeet transplanted into it. It's got space for some other little veges too. The Little Kids can help me water it, and we might pick and eat the produce. Then maybe they'll leave the strawberries alone!

(Photo above is from Google Images, and is probably quite misleading.)

It's really fascinating to watch the actions of a pre-verbal child, notice some repeated action and recognise a possible significance of it for them. Then you have the chance to respond with a follow-up action which may make a meaningful link for them, or help them achieve a goal.

This morning G(19 months) and I were in the sandpit at playcentre. After sorting out spades and some little tractors, G commenced to dig at the sand. A few minutes later I noticed her sitting in the sand making a repeated action. She was tipping sand from her spade into a little pile, and tapping the pile flat with the back of the spade. This seemed very familiar, and after a minute I realised that she might be reinacting the action you make when tamping down the sand in a bucket for a sand-castle. A hasty search around found some buckets, we filled one (tamped with the appropriate action) and turned it out. From her face, G was certainly pleased with this outcome - and she responded to a fresh sand-castle in time-honoured toddler fashion!

There is, of course, a sense of satisfaction in this glimpse into the child's mind and the feeling that you have helped them achieve a goal. What strikes me more on this occasion is that this is the first time that I have made a sand-castle with G. So she is bringing an experience she has of sand from home. She is making a connection between her life outside, and within, this new care relationship. Building (and knocking down) sand castles is a pretty common activity in Kiwi culture. In terms of our relationship, it is something that she brought, and an experience which we now share together.

Sandpit of the week

I have a couple of sandpits in mind that I'm going to get out and photograph soonish. But in the meantime, here's our local 'big sandpit' (aka, a beach). In some of the hot weather lately we've been getting out to this beach, and it has sometimes been as crowded as it looks in the photo! One unlooked for bonus (!!) is that not only do you get to play in the sand and the sea, you also get your exercise from having to walk a mile from your carpark!

Sandpit of the week

Here is another sandpit where we have spent quite a lot of time. This is the new (as in, 5 years new) sandpit at our local Playcentre. It was built while Elanor was four. It replaced a smaller one in a low corner of the ourdoor area.

The sunshade pulls across on two cords, so that it is folded up zig-zag fashion when against the shed wall. It is secured with a bungy cord. The sandpit cover is canvas of some kind, fitted, and secured by a bungy around the edge which hooks onto small hooks about 40cm apart around the lip. Some major work was done after installation to improve drainage (which had previously been going into the carpart adjacent to the centre). Very handy having the shed right by the sandpit.

Your basic home sandpit

I couldn't have this blog title without a sandpit! We built this one for the Big Kids over five years ago and it still gets plenty of use. There were days when Elanor would only come inside for food! I'll be looking for other interesting sandpits to feature on the blog from time to time.