Community outings key for kids
Children should become active members of their communities right from the start of their lives, a nationally recognised Manawatu¯ preschool teacher says.
Palmerston North early childhood education teacher Sue Mcglasson, the Manawatu¯ winner of the Excellence in Teaching Awards from the Australian Scholarship Group, said getting preschoolers out into the wider community helped them grow.
Mcglasson works at Palmerston North’s Lollipops Educare in Ruapehu Dr, with two to five-yearold children.
She said she was excited by an increasing trend for teachers to
"As we go over the bridge in the van we talk about the billy goats and trolls, and we see roadworks and signs and places some children know, and army trucks." Sue Mcglasson
take preschoolers out into the communities to encourage learning.
‘‘It makes them aware of their surrounding and gives them confidence to process how things work in the world,’’ she said.
Mcglasson has worked in early childhood education for 17 years, and said there was growing awareness that parents were busier than they used to be, and might have fewer opportunities to get out and about with their children.
Her unit of two to five-year-olds focused on ‘‘people, places and things’’, and the children were regularly taken on excursions, bush walks and visits to the nearby Summerset retirement village to sing to residents.
‘‘The residents love the children coming to visit, and it’s a great confidence booster.
‘‘It gives them a bit of a thrill, and they know the residents appreciate their singing. It teaches them about different stages of life.’’
Meeting new people and being in different environments started discussions and prompted new thinking, she said.
‘‘They get quite excited, and it really pushes their questioning. As we go over the bridge in the van we talk about the billy goats and trolls, and we see roadworks and signs and places some children know, and army trucks.’’
Mcglasson was nominated by a family whose child attends the centre, and said it was an exciting moment in a rewarding career.
‘‘I have a lot of fun with the children and love watching their growth and watching them hit their milestones.’’