The Ramp

This particular play project took place over three separate sessions. With not a hammer or drill in sight, these children created their own ramp by carefully testing out materials, working out how best to balance and support the different elements in order to create something really fun!

From this simple starting point...

More pieces get added...

When that wasn't exciting enough, they decide to see how to extend it...

Other children helped test out the new additions...

Then the creators push it to it's limits...

And adjust accordingly...

The next day, with all the working out done, they quickly set up the ramp again...

The other children decide to give it a go...

Carefully sussing it out...

Then the following day, with some slight adjustments, the building work starts again...

Love

Some uplifting, motivational messages for you today, courtesy of the children on Elmington estate...

...and lots of love too, as it is Valentines day!

The Game We All Played

I'm always interested in play that involves all the children and adults. I think that when the space is quieter and there are less children it's easier to create moments for everyone to come together, whether intentional or not. Here's a nice example of when this happened recently, see if you can work out what's going on...

Play Pieces: January 2015

It's all gone very quiet on the Shop of Possibilities blog over the last month or so, but it's been very busy on the ground. We started the new year with a New Year's Revolution (blog post to follow shortly) and then straight back into our play sessions. We also had a visit by play worker and writer Kelda Lyons (another blog post that will be following soon) who introduced some new materials and ideas into the Shop of Possibilities. But for now here is a round up of all the other wonderful play moments which have happened throughout January:

More tape wrapping happened

We made some new rules

Broke some old things

Made a mud soup

Used some gallery leftovers as a ping pong table

Had tea to warm ourselves up

Balanced on tyres

Smashed up chalk with a mallet

Tested how much weight some flimsy metal could take (and were very happy when it didn't collapse!)

Did some gymnastics

And some tightrope walking

We made a tent on a very rainy day

And at times just had enough!

Set up a police station...

...and tried to work out who did it!

And here's a nice little musical number to end on. Enjoy!