Making and Taking Risks!

Staff at Rachel Keeling are lucky enough to spend signifiacnt amounts of time observing children and watching them in their interactions and play. We know that risk taking is something which is good for children to engage in: more importantly their own management of risk. Staff this week have supported and enabled a group of children to develop a game they invented. 'Knock Down Five' began by accident when a child  knocked over an abandoned milk crate on the rope swing. It made such a noise and the child was exicted with the momentum with which they struck the crate. Other children gathered more milk crates and staff observed. Rather than discourage the game, staff skillfully supported the children to create a safe game, they created their own guidelines to keep safe such as "stay off the mat if you're not on the swing". Some experimentation was completed and 5 seemed to be the amount of crates which could be knocked over without damaging the equipment or children! Children took it in turns, mostly self-managed and supported each other, counting the crates and shrieking excitedly. Some children who had been reluctant on the rope seing now seemed keener to have a go. During one session two stacks of five crates was used. The children all undestood the importance of asking an adult if they wanted to play the game. Hopefully in January new games will continue to be developed to help burn off any excess calories partaken over the festive season!