Crazy Cardboard Again

We do like our cardboard here at the Shop of Possibilities, and this week saw a return of cardboard houses and den making. This time round the children made a very sophisticated triangular shaped house with fully functioning windows and doors.

 

 

Negative Signs

/ NO INTEFERING / KEEP OUT PLEASE EVERBODY !!! / CONSTRUCTION SITE DANGER / NO ENTRY PLEASE / OUT OF ORDER / DO NOT ENTER/ we play nicely together /

In Lauren Willis’ recent blog post regarding fixed rules not always being adhered to in practice and the introduction of the Blackboard Rule Board now installed in the Shop of Possibilities which displays continually renegotiated rules. The difficulties of fixed rules in a free play setting are described.

One of our old rules “We play nicely together” seems like a pretty reasonable aspiration but in this example of spontaneous play in an entire game was created through acting out the aesthetics associated with authoritative gestures that often exclude children from space due to requirements for safety, security and private ownership of space.

- Jack James, Children & Families Project Assistant

 

Rules

Lately we've been thinking a lot about rules within the Shop of Possibilities. Since we've opened we've had a laminated set of 'rules' on the wall which the children helped create back in June 2012. Looking at those rules and then looking at the range of different play that happens in the space we were starting to question the relevance and importance of these within the play space.

 

The rules were:

We have fun

We are nice to each other

We play nicely together

We respect each other

We share

We tidy up after ourselves

We don’t throw things

We don’t use swear words

We don’t shout at each other

We don’t fight with each other

We don’t take things home

We listen to each other

We help each other

Whilst these on the surface all look like perfectly good and sensible rules to have in a children's play environment, when you look a bit closer do they actually get enforced and if they are then does this actually restrict certain types of play? Should there be times when it is ok to shout at each other or to fight with each other? If you have seen some of our previous posts then you'll know that rough play has been a significant theme in some of our artist projects. So rather than enforcing the 'No Fighting' rule we have stood at a distance, observed and supported this type of play regardless of the rule that was stuck up on the rule throughout this time.

 

Similarly conflict is another theme that crops up again and again, and as a team we choose to support the children in solving their own conflicts rather than jumping in to solve them on their behalves. So whilst we would all encourage children to listen to each other, play nicely together, share and help each other we also understand that often play involves the opposite to this, sometimes people (and children) just aren't nice to each other. Arguments over who had what first, disputes over someone not being allowed to join in a game won't lead to punishment or being sent home so therefore why are these rules laminated as if set in stone?

 

Tents

A lovely little project by Ben on the blog today, have a look at how he made a tiny tent out of a selection of loose parts. Ben often works by himself with a clear sense of purpose, and follows an idea right through until whatever he is making looks or functions exactly as he wants it to.

 

An old chair leg is hammered into the ground to provide the main support for the tent.

A sheet of tarpaulin is then draped over the top...

A Playful Start to 2014

The Shop of Possibilities reopened this week and the children got straight to playing with much enthusiasm and noise. We may have got lots of new toys and gadgets for Christmas but we kick started the new year by making a den out of an old sheet of tarpaulin!