Play Pieces: July

Play Pieces aims to round up some of the children's play projects which have taken place throughout the month. We hope to capture the smaller, fleeting and more subtle moments of play at both the Shop of Possibilities and Play Local sessions. Enjoy!

 

Silver blankets protect from a water spray

 

Cardboard, tape and fabric become the start of a pirate ship

Dressing up...

The Reading Wall

A simple but very clever solution to the problems of reading a book when lying down. No more achy arms!

 

 

Another inspired invention by Ben.

The Toilet*

The boys start to experiment with a chair.

 

Most of the seat is removed to create a toilet seat.

Grating Chalk

Children at the Shop of Possibilities are generally very confident in using materials in ways that they weren't intended to be used. By thinking outside the box, the results of these explorations are often much more interesting than if they had used the material or object in the conventional way.

 

 

Water Fights

 

Daniel Lehan: We Open Up to Everyone... Even You!

Daniel Lehan is an artist who worked with children from Pelican estate throughout March. The plan was to talk to the children living there and listen to stories, ideas, and tales about the area they live, in order to put together a zine which could be given back out to residents on the estate.

 

The children took photographs, made drawings and spoke and wrote about their estate which Daniel then compiled into the zine. It is called 'We Open Up to Everyone... Even You!' which was taken from a conversation Daniel had with one of the children.

 

Here are some of the images:

 

Windy Day Play

Simple things are often the most fun...

 

 

A Small Space

John likes small spaces. One of his favourites at the Shop of Possibilities is an old water butt, which he can fit into perfectly. I think it's extra exciting for him because he's one of the few children that are small enough to fit inside completely.

 

When the other children took notice, they decided they wanted to be a part of this, so they began to push him around the estate:

 

Rolling...

Others check to see if John is ok. He is!

 

Word of Mouth

There's no doubt that children telling their friends about the Shop of Possibilities and Play Local is the best way to get new people involved. Word of mouth is always the best type of promotion.

 

Emily, one of our regular visitors to the Shop of Possibilities thought that it would be a good idea if she put together a booklet explaining what happens at the Shop of Possibilities and what new people can expect when they arrive.

 

She had been telling me that when she first came, the space was very different from how she had imagined it. Her thoughts were based on what her friend had told her, and she gave me the description in great detail, to which I replied that it would be interesting to hear how she would describe the space to those who hadn't been before.

 

At the end of the session I was presented with a very detailed leaflet, made by Emily. She included lots of her own views and opinions, and also some practical information like the opening times and the estates that we focus on. It was too good to not share with you all!

 

 

Asking Big Questions

Artists Helen Rousseau and Rachel Russell began their Play Local workshops on Wyndham and Comber estate last Saturday. The children became scientific investigators and began exploring big questions about the known and the unknown, the possible and the impossible. Have a look at what they got up to below, and if you want to join in then they'll be on the estate every Saturday afternoon throughout June.

 

One of the big questions.

Becoming investigators.

Exploring time.