Curiosity and Imagination: Why resources at childcare centres are so important

The environment – and everything you find within it – plays a huge role in learning outcomes for children. That’s why we cotinually invest in incredible new resources for our 170+ centres.

Carefully curated environments inspire children to engage with the world around them. They also encourage them to be curious, explore and make the space their own. The way resources are presented is key, as is what is on offer – both indoors and outdoors. Age-appropriate, open-ended resources easily accessible to children will make for stimulating discussion and interactive play.

So, as a family, what sort of resources and environments should you look for when choosing a childcare centre for your child?

Inspiring Environments

Different environments and settings should be set up with different purposes in mind. Our teams of educators work hard to ensure there’s always inspiring areas for children to explore, learn and feel safe.

• Quiet areas such as a little nook where a child can feel hidden – but is still visible to a teacher or educator – are great ways to encourage children to engage with books, or to have a bit of downtime if they need. 
• Light installations give children the chance to play with shadows, which sparks curiosity and encourages creativity, persistence and problem-solving – and facilitates learning through connecting a child with their environment. 
• Dress–up areas encourage role playing; something that is critical in understanding relationships and how people interact with the world around them. There are so many ways to inspire children, all through the environments we provide them and the resources within.

Nursery Areas

This environment should be calming to encourage your baby to sleep. They should be places where your child feels a sense of safety and relaxation. While it may initially be a foreign environment as a sleeping space, your child will soon get used to it and be comforted if the space is a nurturing, calm and familiar.

Art and Craft Spaces

Any family will know that art experiences, while engaging for children, can be messy to host at home! So, what better place to have this on offer than at childcare? All the fun for them with none of the mess for you!   

In our centres we have sun-soaked art rooms that the children love, and the parents always comment on during tours. A space with different objects or art experiences on offer really sparks the creativity in children, as they can let their imaginations run wild. Using resources such as paintbrushes and scissors helps build a child’s motor skills, and having these accessible in a safe and managed way is important in their development and independence.

Open-Ended Resources

Children love loose parts play – from blocks to cardboard rolls. These kinds of resources help children to create and imagine. A child may even begin to think outside the box, by using certain objects in a way they were not originally intended, such as stacking stuffed toys or counting blocks made for stacking.

When a child is using open-ended resources, they are free to use their creativity and imagination. There is no right or wrong way, and no set endpoint to the play. A set of wooden blocks is a good example: One moment it’s a pirate ship sailing the high seas; the next moment a maze or puzzle to be solved. Open-ended resources inspire curiosity and support discovery – the building blocks for successful lifelong learning!

You might also enjoy our piece on Outdoor Play and the resources you should look for at your Childcare Centre.

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