A Big Change …..

I was so excited when I first heard about Mayfield. It was the kind of kindy I always wished was available , so I enrolled my son as soon as I could.

Being an educator in a  “regular” centre I found I was wondering if there was more to childcare and if it really could be less restricted.  Then I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to join the Mayfield team. While I am still finding my feet I have learnt soo much about the importance of letting kids be kids and allowing them to be in charge of their learning because that is how they will learn best.

I remember the first time that it rained at Mayfield and the children stayed outside! I watched on stunned as the children slipped and slided in the mud and ended up covered from head to toe. I was slightly scared thinking “should I be letting them do this” but thinking how beautiful it was to see the joy on the children’s faces.

Climbing trees, watching bees up close, swinging on a rope swing,  balancing on logs, playing in the rain, using sticks in play are all things that I was used to thinking were too “risky” or parents wouldn’t be happy with their children doing. I now know that all these things are important  for so many areas of children’s development.

I only hope that in the future this will be the way of all early childhood centres.