Punalu’u Discovery Garden
What is a Discovery Garden?
Punalu’u Discovery Garden
A developmentally appropriate outdoor environment can provide sensory stimulation, physical activity, discovery and knowledge building. During their play outdoors, children explore two compelling distinctions: who they are and what their environment has to offer them. From play, children blend this information to form their current understanding of “how the world works”.
Independent, self-directed play is the best learning tool for young children. Adults can assist this basic and normal learning by introducing novelties and varying the materials that children play with. This diversity of materials requires planning and time indoors, but is naturally occurring outside.
A discovery garden includes interesting things to look at from a horizontal as well as vertical position, protection from excess wind and sun, pleasant colors and sounds, places to crawl and things to pull up on, and the ability to watch but not be knocked over by older children. Fundamentals to consider include waving grasses and leaves, mobiles stirred by the breeze, high vines that attract birds and butterflies and soft wind chimes. Porches with translucent roofs, smooth areas for baby creeping, and vertical railings (spaced to avoid entrapment) for pulling up on. Ramps instead of stairs allow for safe creeping as toddlers grow older.
Kamali’i [children] require places and spaces to discover—over, under, on top of, inside, outside, behind, in front of, up, and down. Low profile design includes a zigzag balance beam and “tunnel” pipes to hide inside. A large sand pit, covered when not in use, is lined with large pieces of wood for families to sit on and engage in “the pit”; during digging, a young keiki may find a hidden petroglyph from a kupuna [elder].
Trees that shift in the moa’e trades, change colors, offer flowers, shade, and possibly fruit are enjoyable for adults as well as children. Behind a low garden fence gate, children experience color and fragrance but minimize their contact with stinging bees and wasps. Families gather on soft grass, under the shade of a milo tree and eat lunch with their ‘ohana, then help keiki nap under the protection of the fluttering leaves. Some adults play with their children on the short stage area, under a parachute cover. Today, the stage is a baby lu’au. Yesterday, it was a restaurant. The family of a four year old is stringing lei on a mat. Other parents stroll along the natural material lined walkway as their child pushes a pint-size wheelbarrow, full of twigs and leaves.
By using all their senses and playing through touching, carrying and physically manipulating objects, very young children acquire a great deal of knowledge about the world. Measuring gravel, pouring water and picking flowers could be considered pre-science. Playing with other children, working in the child garden and taking roles can be the beginning of teamwork and collaboration.
As children’s intellectual development is influenced through physical experiences; what is there naturally, what is surrounding the child comes before any concentration on curriculum or standards. Discovery gardens give children a real and authentic experience with quality objects and materials, and allows children to do their work: “play to learn”.
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