GREDC

Our Image of Childhood

The GREDC Blog

Playground Redesign

Tom Dodd

During 2020, several teachers made similar observations in the playground. We noticed that the traditional playground structure in the middle of the playground was mainly used to either run laps around or to climb up and slide down. Our teachers used their observations to open a dialog with the students to discuss what they would like a playground to include.

Picture of the original playground.

These conversations set us off on a school-wide, child-led project to improve our outdoor areas and work out how to make the best use of the space we have. Our students made many requests for items like real life fire trucks, a swimming pool, more water play, a pirate ship, a bridge, and tennis courts.

Although the swimming pool and water slides were not obtainable, we worked with our students, families, and community to build a water wall, install a boat, a concrete tunnel, and to work on the Judah’s rope bridge project.

Our Malaguzzi class had recently opened up their Tiger Scissor Salon and offered to start a fundraiser to allow us to put up a new fence and make the playground bigger.

Grand Valley Concrete kindly donated the tunnel the children requested and Straightline Fencing installed our new fence.

Children watch the crew install a new fence.
Child watches the work crew install new equipment.
Children anxiously watch and wait as the playground is remade.

We have since observed students breaking out into smaller groups and engaging in so much more imaginative play!

Children splash water at the water wall made of tubes, ramps, and a water fall.
Children play at the new Water Wall.
An overview of the playground.
Concrete, rubber, and bars create a variety of textures. Movable spools and tires allow children to create and adapt their play environment.
Child looks out at the playground with a boat and climbing structures.

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Lauren Huyck

Mentor Teacher

B.S in psychology and writing
A.A. in early childhood education
Teaching since 2010

My name is Lauren Huyck and I am the afternoon lead for the Scoperta classroom. I started as a teaching assistant when the center was still part of Aquinas in 2010. When we became the GREDC in 2012, I stayed on. In 2014, I was excited to accept the role of lead teacher.

I have a Bachelors in psychology and writing, and an associates in early childhood education. I am currently working on getting a Masters in psychology with a concentration in child development.

I love seeing the children grow and learn. There are so many developmental milestones that I get to see and experience. I fell in love with the Reggio approach and work to incorporate it in all my experiences with children. It has definitely taught me to treat children as citizens of the world.

I honestly could go on about how much I love the work I do and how passionate I feel about every child having quality care but that would take eons. So I will end with these two quotes:

“To take children seriously is to value them for who they are right now rather than adults-in-the-making.”

Alfie Kohn

If you trust play, you will not have to control your child’s development as much. Play will raise the child in ways you can never imagine.

Vince Gowmon