One of the things we want our Garden of Discovery to offer is choice. Children do not always want to be doing the same thing, in the same place, at the same time. Running and climbing is important but sometimes imaginative play needs a smaller space.
Our new Hideaways add another kind of place to explore.
The woven teepee-style dens sit alongside our Billy Goats Gruff bridge, where Barbara, our Resident Gardener, has recently added grasses and planting around the area. As the planting becomes established, it will bring more texture, movement, sound and seasonal change to this part of the garden too.
The Hideaways are deliberately open-ended. They might become a house, a campsite, an animal den or somewhere to sit with a friend. Children can decide for themselves how they want to use them, rather than the space having one fixed purpose.
Why small outdoor spaces matter
Not every child has access to a large garden at home, and even those who do may not have the opportunity to explore such a wide variety of outdoor spaces every day.
That is one of the reasons we place so much emphasis on our nursery garden. We want children to have room to move, but also different places within that larger space: places to build, dig, grow things, investigate nature, imagine, retreat and simply be outdoors.
This also reflects the way we think children learn. Young children learn through their bodies and through first-hand experience — climbing, carrying, balancing, digging, touching and exploring. At the same time, having quieter or more enclosed spaces gives children opportunities to slow down, regulate themselves and choose a different pace of play. This connection between movement, outdoor exploration and emotional wellbeing is an important part of our approach at Blue Windmill.
You can read more about our approach to movement and wellbeing in the garden.
Like much of our Garden of Discovery, the Hideaways will continue to change. As the grasses mature and the children begin to make the space their own, we are looking forward to seeing what they turn it into.
Blue Windmill Nursery, Rugby
Blue Windmill Nursery is based on Addison Road in Rugby, and provides childcare for babies, toddlers and preschool children.
If you are looking for a day nursery in Rugby, we would be delighted to show you around. Please get in touch to arrange your visit.