Thinking outside of the box Thursdays: How can we support ice exploration?
Ice in the outdoor space can be a wonderful element for children to engage with. The outdoor spaces can provide unique opportunities for children to explore ice in many different ways. Ice can be used in children’s play, it can be a wonderful invitation to explore using senses, it can promote physical activity and be a whole-body experience when children find patches of ice to slide on and it can also be used in art, the possibilities are endless. Do the children in your care have opportunities to explore ice? If so what have you observed the children doing with ice?
We are always told to put salt down immediately on the ice to avoid slips and falls. This becomes a problem when the children can pick it up, as the child above it, and decide to eat/lick it with the salt all in it. So, we tend to chop it up with the shovel and help it melt faster.
ReplyDeleteHowever, inside we use ice a lot! We love freezing objects in ice for the children to 'rescue,' freezing water with food colouring in it to paint with, etc.
I look at the pictures above and think of all the learning that child is doing, seeing the preserved left and bits of other things in the chunk of ice. This is inspiring and next time we have some ice I will suggest some exploration, rather than jumping to removal right away!
Thanks for your response Amanda and bringing this up. I have experienced the same thing with salt being put down to melt the ice right away. However I have also been lucky when there are spots where the ice hides and so it is free from salt these are the times I get to watch children enjoy and experience the ice in various ways. Sometimes ice hides beneath the snow and when the children find it they have a blast!! In my experiences the children have not gotten hurt they become cautious when it is really slippery and I catch them being creative and finding ways to cross the ice such as crawling on it.
DeleteI try to take advantage of the icy patches out in the grassy field of the school. This is where we get to learn how to safe maneuver on the ice, as well as to run and slide of course. With an educator close by to guide with some limits for safety, ice play should be absolutely encouraged.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! It's awesome that you are supporting this type of risky play!
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