The 3 Ps for Outdoor Learning

[Sarah Brennan]

Allowing children to use real tools such as gardening implements, woodworking tools, or kitchen utensils provides them with tangible experiences that enhance their learning. Through hands-on exploration, they develop fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and spatial awareness.

Fire seems very risky!

[Aoife Dunne]

I think that real tools and fire experiences with young children in Irish early years practice should be explored more and not be feared.
Measured controls and risk assessments can can be helpful to the implementation approaches we can take as practitioners. Challenges can be that practitioners are fearful or that there may be just too many risks. Challenges identified can be the mindsets of the practitioners and not all being open to this new “play” and play experiences. This programme is open to all practitioners in our service and everyone is invited to explore and then incorporate more adventurous play in our practice.

The children enjoy pretending to be firefighters and have in the past used foam pool noodles as a hose, went down the slide and put out “fires” with watering cans.
However, we did reflect upon what else we would add to ensure they would have a deeper play experience.
The children did explore with the full benefits from using additional tools, they told us what the firefighters use and we tried to add additional equipment and tools to their play area.
We added some toy saws, a water hose a small ladder and an old car that they rescued people from!
We did speak with the children about safety regarding water and also hoses, leaving them be – supervised without interference.

When new staff join we encourage them to also adapt and be open minded to this pay and added equipment that cant be bought off a shelf or from a catalogue. It is amazing how fast staff they get on board and involved. Being reflective on risky play, it really comes down to confidence in your self and the team, reassuring parents and explaining the benefits to parents.

[Shauna Healy]

Using real tools and resources is a great way for children to learn responsibility and care while also safety measures. If a child never uses a hammer or axe how will they know that they are heavy and sharp and can harm people. They need to be exposed to cause and effect as the toys they use are plastic. I do think implementing real tools and fire equipment needs to be a whole team approach with everyone onboard and aware of the supervision level required but also allowing children to freely play and express themselves. Once used in a controlled environment I can see many benefits. Also I would say possibly using these resources at good times such as before children and staff start to leave the centre and at first possibly introduce this equipment in smaller groups.

[Michaela Omojola]

When I came to Ireland 20 years ago, children in the kindergarten I worked in Germany, had daily access to hammers, saws, whittling knives and other tools to work with wood. Also, knives and peelers to cut food for cooking with the group. Teaching young children to use these tools to create things is a wonderful thing and not as toys. Yes, some might hurt them, even with risk assessment (so do we as adults) and we will be a bit more careful next time. No one talks about letting children run wild with sharp tools or sticks but step by step letting them use certain tools or experience risky situations will certainly strengthen their confidence, resilience and ambition to achieve things to trial and error. What a great experience for everyone! However, it is always difficult with a larger group of children.

[Anne Curley]

fire i feel very risky type of play however i think it is important for children to have a good understanding of safety, ask the local fire brigade for a tour of the fire station and then follow it up by adding items for play. this would allow there imagination and create play in the garden, dress up hard hats, cones an old hose watering cans tap so that water is accessible. story’s could be added to the outdoor library.

outdoor tools is good for the children for there development in fine motor and gross motor skills. to know the weight of them and to really engage in there play. i feel that this type of play is best in small groups to be able to observe the children to the best that they can without taking over there play.

[Criona Garvey]

Outdoor play enhances their natural environment.Talking with parents that the fire engine is coming in. Children walking home from school they with can walk passed the fire station with parents/guardians. Discussion with the children how to play safe in small groups until they feel confident about making their own decision about their learning. Access to real tools with adult supervison encourages new learning then the adult can observe from a safe distance. Planning ahead can lead to a safe environment which encourages gross and fine motors skills, exploring and thinking.

[Caroline Esmonde]

In using real life material it allows children to explore and learn. Our service is Reggio inspired and we use as much natural or real life material as possible and less plastic. This is teaching children about the world they live in and with real like tools in the garden allows the children to plant seeds or plants like they might do at home. In doing risk assessments in your environment can support the children development in a safe manner if you may need to make changes so the children can use real tools. In fire experiences in having talks with others staff you can discussion what is the safest manner on activities so the children can learn. A barrier may be staff not wanting change and in doing CPD training it allows staff to keep up skilling new information and implementing on how to support the children learning.

[Mairead Rainsford]

Fire is dangerous but we would get the local Fire Brigade to talk to them about the danger of fire and then give them each a turn to hold the hose and throw out water. We have the tools of dressing up Fire Brigade costumes, so they have physical contact and use good listening skills.

[Michelle Houghton]

We have had real hammer and nails in our setting and the children loved it. Health and safety can along and insisted on goggles being worn. The children didn’t want to wear the Googles so they stopped using them.
I haven’t ventured to real fires yet but with risk assessments carried out I can’t see why not

[Francesca Lavelle]

Children who are exposed to risk and are taught properly how to use tools , are better prepared for life. My mother taught me at a very young age how to light a fire safely outside . As soon as my daughters became curious about the stove , I taught them how to light it safely, at five under supervision they were allowed to do so.

[Senna Na Chang]

Thoughts on Using Real Tools and Fire Experiences
In the context of Ireland’s early education, it could be beneficial to examine the use of real tools and fire experiences with children.

Using Real Tools:
Introducing tools gradually is very important. You should begin with simple and safe tools, such as plastic utensils. After that, you can move on to small woodworking or gardening tools. For the activities, it’s better to do them in small groups for easier control and direction. You also need to show the correct way of using these tools, making sure safety is highlighted too.

Difficulties we might encounter consist of worries about safety and limitations in policies, plus possible inadequacies of educators in skills and self-belief. These can be handled by arranging professional training, creating plans for managing risk as well as talking with parents to obtain their backing.

Fire Experiences:

While fire experiences may seem dangerous, they can be safe and educational if carefully planned. Begin with simulated flames and role-playing, have firefighters come in to teach about fire safety, and let kids participate in basic fire activities under close supervision.

The problems are that there is a big danger of fire, psychological barriers and legal rules. By managing risk and doing education campaigns, we can begin to introduce fire experiences slowly from small-risk activities to more difficult ones as abilities and belief in oneself increase.

In general, these actions give children the possibility to try out adventure in a safe way. This helps with their overall growth and adventurous nature.

[Aisling Tracey]

Discuss your views on using real tools and fire experiences with young children in Irish early years practice. Think about the implementation approaches you’ve taken, what challenges and barriers exist in your service and the ways this programme can support you to incorporate more adventurous play in your practice.

I’d love to be using real tools and have fire experiences with the children and believe it is possible as I have seen it being done well in other European countries however as it is not the norm here in Ireland, I believe that it needs to be more of process and this process will be individual to each service. I think the use of real tools will need to be introduced slowly and in small groups and in a more controlled environment at first until all the children and staff feel comfortable using them. There would be need to be training for all staff and for staff to feel confident in their abilities to manage risk. I think for the children to view the tools as tools and not toys is hugely important and the same with fire, to understand and respect the tools/fire, this can be done through slow and controlled introductions. I also think it would be important to discuss with parents the reasoning/benefits of using tools/fire and how that would look in your service.
An example of any tools we use now in our service are gardening tools, we use them in small groups and discuss how they are to be used in a safe manner and we discuss with the children any risks. Similarly, if we are doing hammer and nail activities, we would first introduce this with golf tees and cork board or wooden blocks and connectors and hammers. Once the children are familiar and confident with this, we may move onto wood and nails 1:1 or in small groups.
I think with more knowledge from this course around risk assessment and policies and procedures in using tools in my service will help me incorporate more use of tools in my service. I think also practising to use the tools myself first and then introducing the tools to the children will help too.

[Claire Lucey]

In the setting where I work, we use real screwdrivers, nut drivers, spanners with the children. They enjoy using these tools. In regards to using other tools, I wonder would you be covered by insurance to use such tools. I think it’s important to teach children about fire. It’s good to get their view on fire and fire safety. This is something I could introduce to the setting.

[Kyra Gifford]

In Early Years, it is vital that we ensure children’s health, safety and wellbeing is always the practitioners best’s interest however allowing children from all ages 0-6 years to explore and experience real materials and the conversations these meaningful opportunities can share is central to their holistic and personal development. Through modelling and collaboration with the children in a safe, stimulating and inviting environment, these different types of materials can be used and co contruct children’s sense of responsibility, care and respect for safety. If children are not exposed to this type of play, exploration and opportunities to creative and make opinions, children will be more mindful ad careful about predicting and judging safety but these opportunities allow children to become more reflective and competent thinkers in the natural world and open ended materials to make meaning and purpose through investigative and imaginative play. This must include and highlight how the adult jow only facilitates and nurtures these observations and assumptions made by the children through looking closely at hammers, saws etc but the importance of supervision, reflective practice, risk assessment and the vital understanding the children’s new and keen interests and love of learning must be followed, enhanced and encouraged daily. The idea of introducing these materials through smaller groups at a time allows the children to develop a sense of wonder and awe for these open objects and creates a controlled environment for the adult to speak, listen and explore these materials with the children on a calmer and deeper level.

[Elizabeth Fitzgerald]

While risk is a very new concept to me, I have read several papers on the benefits of risky play. The positives far outweigh the negatives. I feel that introducing the idea of taking risks at an early age, giving children the opportunity to be guided or observed while taking a calculated risk, builds confidence and good self-esteem. I also feel that informing the parents from the start about the types of tools the children will engage with during their time in your service and why, is vital, as the why is essential.