top of page
Search

Are you fearful of excursions?

Updated: Aug 27, 2019

A Few well thought planning details can help change your attitude. Having a 4-month-old baby and a 3-year-old child, it really keeps me on my toes and often my mum side and my educator side clash together and that is what happened to me today.This morning we decided to enjoy the winter sun and set off to one of our favourite parks. When we arrived, I was greeted with the pleasing sight of a table full of 3-5-year-old children with their educators! I love excursions and feel that so much can be learnt, taught and discovered by being immersed in your community. As Mr 3 romped around the park, I began admiring the Educators and children. Let me set the scene for you then you will understand my admiration;on one side a two lanes road; not a major road but with traffic nonetheless; the other side is the ocean, for as far as you can see left and right. The shoreline is filled with big boulder like rocks, stones and pebbles. Between the ocean and the road is a long strip of land about 50 meters wide. It has a range of different environments ranging from dense bush with walking tracks to big open space and nestled in a small open space is a sandy park. Now I kind of feel like I’m rambling a little, but I want to highlight the obvious reflection, planning, understanding and consistency that these children and educators have established as it’s not your quick, safe local grocery store excursion. As my boys and I wandered up the path we passed another Centre out enjoying the same area. It was here that I really got my educator reflection going on as there were a few stand out differences about the way the two excursions were executed and while both are clearly amazing, there was a standout to which would have been better for the educators stress level, mental health and passion for their role.

Group 1. ⁃ 4 educators. ⁃ 25 - 30 children. ⁃ Walkie talkies for the educators ⁃ Bum bag first aid and supplies for the educators ⁃ Children had child size fluro yellow vests ⁃ Children were wearing well designed, matching centre hats. ⁃ Children had their own back packs with their own morning tea and drinks.Group 2 ⁃ 2 educators ⁃ 5 children ⁃ Educators carrying backpacks with supplies ⁃ Children wearing their play clothes and a variety of coloured hats. Can you seethe detail to planning I’m loving? Group 1 had a much larger group, but a collection of practices that would empower and enable them to move freely with the children, communicate in a stress, free way as they ensured every child’s safety and well-being in a thorough way. Even though both groups would have had a very similar risk assessment group 1 had really taken into consideration a lot more considerations, and ways to utilise their time out with the children. Their children were climbing trees, moving branches, down close to the water’s edge moving over rocks of all shapes and sizes investigating the details. Really capturing the beauty and ability to learn from their land and environments. As I sing praise to these educators and children I have to tell you their embedded practices were clear as they had also included a reflective discussion before the children begun their venture, together they recalled their previous adventures, allowing everyone to build on their prior knowledge and further extend their learning.I was so genuinely pleased with what I saw today that I could not share the fabulous experience with you all! But can you see that when you really think about your experiences, do in-depth planning, the experience becomes highly educational, less stressful and FUN for all whom are involved. (Also, if you happen to be reading this and you are one of the educators I passed today, here's a huge virtual hi-5 you and your team!)

RISK ASSESSMENT -Completing a risk assessment can be a daunting and scary task. You are literally envisioning the worst possible outcomes for all these different situations that you are about to take children in to! talk about a spike in anxiety. There's always a silver lining, the silver lining about completing the risk assessment so thoroughly is that you, your team, volunteers and event parents and guardians attending will be so well versed in the plan and know what to do if something goes wrong that it minimizes these risks. It also ensures that if any incident from tripping on the path and having a child with a scraped knee or something more dire like a missing child (even temporarily) will be managed and action will be taken immediately. Again, reducing the risks.The other silver lining of taking your excursions to a new level is that the children will become experts in their surroundings, they will know how to be a functioning member of our society. The art of catching a bus will become second nature, the ability to cross the street in a safe manner will be ingrained into their motions. A child's imagination will be constantly growing, developing and enabling them to seek exciting play, natural aesthetics and complex problem-solving skills all from being immersed into new environments.If excursions are something that you feel are out of your depth, that are always put in the too hard basket or even you just cannot fathom taking children into situations that would be considered 'Risky' reach out to us at https://www.sproutsconsultancy.com/ and one of experienced Mentors can guide you to new a level of ease.

1 view0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

LIFE;

bottom of page