Some of the school’s brightest young minds have worked together to convince the board of trustees to put a giant hamster wheel in the playground — a first in a New Zealand school.
Principal Heidi Hayward said the board of trustees decided to redevelop the school’s playground two years ago, and employed a designer to create a new fun zone for pupils.
But when the plans were shown to pupils on the school’s student council, they were promptly rejected.
Since then, the student council has been working with the school to come up with a more "child-engaging" version of a playground, she said.
"They had better ideas about what they thought children this age would appreciate, and given that I have no intention to play on any of this equipment, I felt it was much better that I stayed out of it.
"Instead, I helped the kids devise a plan that represented the students."
She said council members spent a lot of time researching and surveying fellow pupils, and their final playground was entirely different from that of the designer.
The hamster wheel was the first of four pieces of equipment to be installed.
"The other pieces — a flying fox, basket swings, and a rope net climbing frame — are being installed at present, and the playground will be opened officially on February 15.
"Many of the students who contributed to the planning of this are now at high school, but we will invite them back on the 15th, to see the playground opened."
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Comments
WHAT !!!
This equipment is a danger to our young people and should be demolished immediately !!
Children will be severly hurt by attempting to do what the teacher in the photograph is. There's no safety padding and, apart from serious head injuries & concussion, you're looking at dislocated joints, broken bones, and, God forbid, children getting splinters from the exposed wood.
I assume that there will be ample padding put into the equipment and safety measures such as helmets, padded suits, knee and elbow pads as well as mouthguards supplied to the children before they are allowed to play on something so dangerous ... or do the parents have to purchase these items ??
No ... definitely far too dangerous and far too enjoyable for our children ...
I hope they keep developing more play options at DNI. It lacks them. Lots of bare fields. Children don't suddenly change from enjoying play at primary school to not enjoying play when they go to intermediate. Will be great to see more imaginative play nooks and crannies and play equipment at DNI - not just for the physically confident kids, but for the less physically confident imaginers etc.
Bravo DNI on this new playground development! Future kids there will really appreciate it. Hopefully lots more to come - equipment doesn't need to all be prohibitively expensive - it can be "natural play" equipment e.g. what is being at Caverham's Reserve, or interesting plantings the kids can play within. Being in natural play environments and imaginative play environments is so therapeutic and helpful for kids struggling with their school days and their studies.