Bogin Playscape Project

Today was a chance for the students to see the kind of equipment we use at our pediatric outpatient OT clinic. There were lots of swings and a “hug machine” to look over, and  we looked through lots of catalogs that are full of equipment ideas. It’s important to see the range of equipment that’s already out there on the market,  and what is all costs, as we start to figure out how we will offer help to Nonotuck in Northampton and Children’s House in Holyoke. The assignment for this week is for the students to write an initial  proposal for how we could help the Nonotuck pre-school improve the play opportunities in their big “activity room”. Next week we will have each student make a presentation of their initial proposals, and then start to refine and combine ideas  to make our plan.

Tom Murphy

This was a great first visit. We were impressed  with how much the teachers and staff were already doing in terms of giving kids plenty of opportunities for movement and exercise. There’s a wonderful outdoor play area, and a big multi-function room inside where we will likely focus our attention. We got to watch a group of kids 3 year olds play, zooming around on plasmacars (these are terrific self propelled kid vehicles, that can be moved either with legs pushing on the floor or with a back and forth motion of the steering wheel using arms- find them at plasmacar.com)

Julie Guazzo, Nonotuck’s director gave us a tour, and we wandered through the different classrooms- what wonderful light coming through those huge windows!  Julie spoke about the need to find more indoor play opportunities for the older pre-schoolers, and hoped we could add to their “upper body exercise” activities.  The space available is huge, but it has to work for all the different classes…

This brings up one the major challenges we will face in designing equipment for a wide age range; trying to make it interesting for the older pre-schoolers, while not dangerous or unsafe for the younger crowd.

Next week we will start to work on ideas for upcoming group projects- Nonotuck is ready for us !!

This was my first  chance to speak to a group of parents about the Playscape Project. I am hopeful that the Holyoke preschool will be the 3rd site where we will get involved this semester.  There was a group of 20-25 parents present, who had thoughtful  questions and  seemed interested and supportive.  Once we get permission slips returned, we will make an initial visit and get started.  I am realizing that the real success of our work will be when we can get a whole school community of parents, teachers and kids all on board and involved.  There is lots to discuss regarding the “state of childhood” in our times, and how more and more kids  seem to be growing up with too much “screen time” and not enough movement and exercise time.

Tom Murphy

This was a wonderful day for me; I got to sit back and observe as students made up games and motor activities using simple props and toys from my traveling toy bag- It was thrilling to see the toys and games they came up with… and so great to hear laughter and giggling, as they played at being three and four years old.

I had wanted to stop doing most of the talking, and get the students more involved in the process and with each other. We mixed up the small groups and kept a list and description of all the ideas that came out. I was so impressed!!

Aside from the fun and laughs, there were some great ideas – and it seemed to open up a whole other path for how we can get started in the centers where we see kids.  We want to document the games that the students made up, and  it made it clear how little equipment is really needed  when the urge to be creative is strong. We will be meeting the kids, teachers and families at Nonotuck Community Pre-school in Florence MA next week, and I could see a games group starting up to share these ideas, maybe a workbook or posters to keep track of  how to set up and play the games. Serious fun…

The class today heard a panel of local clinicians who spoke about the trends in motor development among pre-school children.

The panel included Dr Scott Cochrane from Holyoke Pediatrics, Arlene Spooner, PT,  who has worked locally in early intervention for thirty years, and Nancy Milch, OT, who has worked for many years in the Holyoke Schools.  Tom Murphy, Bogin Playscape Project director , also participated.

Arlene Spooner spoke from her years in early intervention and described how the “back to sleep”  movement, which became official policy from the American Board of Pediatrics some 18 years ago has had a impact on how children develop. The emphasis on placing children on their backs when sleeping (with the intention of reducing incidents of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) ) has also had the unintended result of reducing the amount of time and experience many children spend in “tummy time”.  Arlene spoke on the importance of infants  learning about the world and their own bodies that is the direct result of exploring in the prone position, pushing off the floor with their hands, and experiencing holding their head up against gravity as they learn to move. Arlene also offered her perspective on the overuse of  car seats, floor seats and other devices that have become so prevalent in “holding ” babies instead of allowing infants to crawl and explore, and that these devices do not offer the opportunity to develop the  foundation motor, visual and sensory motor  skills that children need.

Dr Cochrane suggested that the “back to sleep” policy was still  needed as a means of reducing SIDS, but that he was also concerned with the  use of devices and seats for children that  reduce the time infants spend on their tummies, and that he suggests that parents take time to allow infants to crawl and explore outside of any devices.   He also described how many families report to him that their children do not spend much time playing outside,  and spend many hours each day in front of “screens”.

Nancy Milch offered her view from the Holyoke schools, where their has been a dramatic increase in the number of children referred for OT services, especially related to fine motor skills. She feels that the children who enter school unable to hold a writing tool properly are often lacking in the foundation skills that come from using their hands to play and explore. She contrasted this view with her experience with children in Nicaragua, where young kids spend much more time in creative outdoor play, climbing fences, gardening and helping with chores, and  exploring their own neighborhoods, and how this play  can contribute of development of  fine motor skills needed for writing.

The class was videotaped, and we hope to have some sections of the panel discussion posted on the website soon

The first class took place at the Holyoke Children’s Museum, where we have been cordially invited to meet. Susan Kelley, the museum director , has been kind enough to open the door for our project to meet at the museum, and we are most grateful. The museum is a fabulous place for kids, and we are thrilled to be part of their extended community.

The students and faculty advisors all introduced themselves, describing their interests and background information. I tried to describe my own background and the impetus to get this project up and running. Though this is a small group of students, I am thrilled and impressed with the level of interest and energy expressed today.

Dear friends,

I am excited that the playscape project is set to begin next week, with the start of the seminar I’ll be teaching with students from Smith College and Springfield College.

I’m especially excited that the centers in Holyoke where I have worked for many years, and where I’ve learned so much about pre-school play can be part of this project. I’m also glad to have centers from Smith College and Nonotuck in Northampton to get a wider view of the local “scene”.

Thanks for your help,

Tom Murphy- director
Bogin Playscape Project