New play areas for Day Nursery

Published February 28th, 2018

Probably what children remember most from their childhoods are the seemingly endless hours of outdoor play time. Now it will be even more fun-filled for children in the Day Nursery, thanks to its newly developed outdoor areas.

Natural
The areas, unveiled a couple of weeks ago, comprise new equipment including some large-scale pieces for imaginative play, new sensory equipment and outdoor art materials and natural easels.

“We will also be getting new gross motor movement equipment to provide more challenges for the older children,” says Day Nursery manager Aoife Cox.

The project was done with the assistance of Estates and Facilities, who’ve always been very supportive of Day Nursery according to Aoife. It was funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs under their early years capital programme, with the proviso that Day Nursery pay VAT on the equipment.

“The area had not had any work or new equipment installed for some time,” says Aoife. “It was beginning to look old and I was keen to revamp the area with more of a focus on natural materials.” The last time the play areas had a revamp was back in 2011, with the installation of a new floor area thanks to the Sports Centre.

Modern living means that creative outdoor play arears are more important than ever.

Wellbeing
“Greater levels of apartment living in Dublin means that children don’t necessarily have access to their own garden, so there is an even greater need to provide high quality outdoor play opportunities for both their physical and mental wellbeing.”

Aoife points to a study conducted by Safe Food Ireland, which found that 3% of boys and 2% of girls aged between two and four years in Ireland are obese and this rises to 25% in boys and 21% in girls aged four to five years. “We have a duty of care to the children in the nursery to ensure that outdoor play and physical activity is encouraged in the early years.”