The wheels go round

After months of refurbishment and improvements to our bike track the children can now be cool kids that wear lids. The actual process in creating the bike track was of great interest to the children. When the digger came in and the workmen donned  their safety hats, the children worked alongside them in the sandpit, hats on shifting sand from one spot to the next. Te Whāriki (1996. p.98) states “children use a variety of technologies for different purposes as they explore their world” This was the perfect time to introduce safety and the importance of keeping ourselves safe with links to the wider community, but this time the community was in our own back yard. Through the use of digital cameras we were able to capture the change in the outdoor area.

Through digital media we were able to keep the parents updated with progress taking place through a digital photo frame so the children could share what they were experiencing outdoors and the changes they could see happening with family. The children's learning stories are also enhanced by using photos to give visual display and description of everyday happenings. When the official opening of the bike track came we had an open day with the local newspaper there to spread the news of our outdoor facilities. The track is complete with road markings and pedestrian crossing to promote road safety in the community.

Since the opening we have had the Franklin council road safety zebra, Zeb, visit and talk to the children about crossing the road and where it is safe to cross. Friedman (2005) suggests the desire for children’s learning is often initiated by investigating things they already know and care about. The best feedback we have had is from one parent who said they were in the street about to cross the road and M said “No Dad we need to move up to the crossing to be safe”. “children develop awareness of the connection between events and experiences within and beyond the early childhood education setting” (MoE 1996, p.56)

What was once old is now new and there is never enough time nor bikes to share around, but I can honestly say it has been a great investment to the centre to bring our outdoor area into the twenty first century with a purposeful theme, all documented for the children to share with family and friends.