Why it sparks inspiration
How can early childhood programs provide children with more opportunities for adventurous and unstructured play? This guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to create and sustain a Mobile Adventure Playground, a dynamic, child-led play environment. Drawing from Calgary’s Mobile Adventure Playground pilot program, it outlines how to plan, staff, manage, and evaluate a Mobile Adventure Playground, including gathering and utilizing loose parts, securing funding, and handling logistics. Using the strategies provided in the guide, early childhood programs can create vibrant play spaces that encourage physical, cognitive, and social growth, helping children to develop important life skills through risky, unstructured play.
"Mobile Adventure Playgrounds offer children the freedom to create their own play experiences, allowing them to engage with their environment, take risks, and develop physical and social skills in a way that traditional playgrounds cannot provide."
How it can inspire your practice
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Educators can learn ways to incorporate culturally diverse materials and loose parts into a Mobile Adventure Playground or their own play routines, allowing children to explore different cultural contexts and engage in play that reflects their backgrounds and values.
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Program leaders can ensure that play activities are inclusive by training staff to recognize and support various cultural practices around play, risk-taking, and safety.
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