September to Remember – Day 9

We have a small pond in our preschool outdoor learning environment.

 

One question I am often asked about our pond, tree swing and digging area is “How can you do all this? Our Health & Safety person tells us we can’t!”

 

At our school, we have a Health & Safety Committee. Everyone in leadership positions has bought in to the philosophy of our outdoor learning program. No one on the Health & Safety Committee has the intention to shut down our outdoor learning program. Their aim is to advise and support us to make the program as safe as possible.

 

We have made their job easier by conducting risk-benefit analyses prior to installing the tree swing, having the pond built or digging with shovels. Here is an example of a risk-benefit analysis for having a pond.

 

 

On the first day of school, we go outside to learn pond safety. It’s one of the very first lessons we do. Only after the children have learned how to be safe around the pond and use the tree swing safely, are they allowed to play freely.

 

Here’s how we teach pond safety:

 

1. Claire and I take a small group of children to the pond. The number in the group varies each year depending upon the maturity and level of English language understanding of the children. Group size has been as many as fifteen and as few as five students. When children are learning the pond safety rules, they are the only children in the outdoor learning environment. There is nothing happening outside to distract them from this important lesson.

 

2. We explain and demonstrate the rules. It’s important to demonstrate the rules at the pond because some children aren’t native speakers of English.

a. Rule #1: Never cross the visual barrier unless a teacher invites you.

 

b. Rule #2: Once the barrier has been crossed, always immediately do the respect position.

 

The respect position is “one knee down, one knee up”. If a child is kneeling on both knees, she could fall into the pond if someone bumps into her. With one knee down and one up, one leg is there to stop the fall.

 

Every child practices the respect position with the help of the teachers before being invited to cross the visual boundary. We call it the “respect position” because it reminds us to respect danger and keep ourselves safe. After explaining and demonstrating the rules, I invite every child, one at a time, to cross the visual barrier and do the respect position with me.

To ensure every child understands, we send home a safety rules picture book with any children who would benefit from hearing the explanation from their parents in their home language. 

Not once in ten years has a child broken the rules and fallen into the pond. Of course, Claire and I are vigilant to prevent mistakes and ensure safety.

Why not consider installing a small pond in your outdoor learning environment?