This play space critique looks at a 15-second clip of play taking place on Harmony’s Hill, a custom-built structure on her child care center’s playground. Harmony posted the following video on Playvolution HQ’s sister site, Play Haven, the new community of practice I’ve set up for early learning folks passionate about play to connect and learn.

---

Don’t hit play ye. First, let’s look at this outdoor play space. So many loose parts! A wooden cable spool, a giant tire, multiple barrels, boards, a green plastic slide, huge LEGO-like blocks, a beefy green wagon with pneumatic tires, and a big dirt hill with a tunnel through it. I almost forgot the cow skull (it’s a bit in front of the blue barrel for those who weren’t good at finding Waldo).

There are so many variables in this space, so many things for kids to interact with. It’s an ideal setting for heavy work, power play, and sensory integration. This space is designed to promote active, hands-on engagement with the world. It has a real patina of play. Such spaces offer kids more choices than those with a Loud Molded Plastic aesthetic.

Harmony’s Hill isn’t the only point of interest in her program, I hope to share more in the future.

Go ahead and play the clip:

This is what child-led play-based school readiness looks like.

I suspect human children have been engaging in this activity for as long as human children have had access to four-wheeled devices and hills. I see cooperation, problem-solving, deductive reasoning, verbal and non-verbal communication, developmentally appropriate risk-taking, and sensory integration.

Plus, FUN. Excuse the strong language, but this looks like a heck of a lot of fun, a delightful way for a trio of preschoolers to spend part of a summer day. That’s important to note because we live in a world where kids are generally overscheduled, overmanaged, and rushed from one adult-planned activity to the next. Too many kids lack the luxury of simple fun like this.

A Word About Safety

There were, of course, some crashes on Harmony’s Hill. She told me she was glad they wore helmets. As a former hill roller downer, I can assure you that crashes are part of the fun as long as they are not too severe. Steps were taken here to mitigate severe crashes. For example, the hill is not too steep, no unsuspecting pedestrians are wandering nearby, and there is no pit full of broken glass, angry snakes, and Malaria at the bottom.

Knowing the difference between dangers, hazards, and risks is essential to keep kids safe. Harmony mitigated significant hazards (no glass and Malaria covered snakes!) in this space so she could allow kids to take developmentally appropriate risks.

Building A Hill Of Your Own

Creating your own version of Harmony’s Hill is reasonably straightforward.

Start with a hunk of plastic, galvanized steel, or concrete drainage pipe. It’s a bit pricey new, but not nearly as expensive as a boring catalog play structure. If you look, you can probably find an affordable used section that’ll meet your needs. Step two: cover it with dirt, pack down the dirt, add more dirt, pack it down again, and repeat until you’re happy with your hill.

Involving kids in the construction process is a great way to provide them with opportunities for heavy work and ensure some happy and tired kids at the end of the process.

---

Harmony’s Hill Wrap-Up

This is just a snapshot, but what happens on Harmony’s Hill is probably a good indicator of what’s happening everywhere else in her program. My guess is that these intrepid daredevils have a lot of self-directed time to play and explore as they please in this thoughtfully arranged and managed environment. All kids should be as lucky.

---

Have thoughts on the photos–or thoughts on our thoughts? Please share them in the comments. You’ll find more play space critiques here.

Brought to you by Explorations Early Learning
Contribute content to Playvolution HQ

Browse Trainings