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In an engaging book just released by Pademelon Press in Australia, The Outdoor Playspace Naturally �" for Children Birth to Five Years (in Oceania: www.pademelonpress.com.au; in North America: www.olivepressbooks.com), editor Sue Elliott outlines five underlying principles in designing outdoor play spaces. One principle relates to "balance of opportunity":

"A drive through most suburbs in Australia will reveal that the focus for children's play provision for some time has been equipment and this is also reflected in early childhood centres. There is certainly a place for play equipment in children's spaces, but it is equally imperative that there is a balance of provision that complements the equipment and offers more diverse play opportunities.

"Equipment provides opportunities for development of gross motor skills and other physical competencies as well as giving opportunity for decision making and risk, and some degree of socialisation, sharing, and collaboration. Elements worthy of consideration to complement equipment include open space, landscape elements such as slopes, diverse predominantly indigenous planting, a range of loose materials, sand and water, intimate spaces, interactive sculptural pieces, sound, and quiet places. These complementary elements offer opportunities for less competitive play and more social and collaborative play, role play, interaction with the environment and loose parts, quiet spaces and places for retreat, exploratory spaces. Such elements can invoke a sense of wonder and intrigue."

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Exchange has a number of valuable resources to help centers get more connected with nature. To begin with we have four books that offer insights on connecting with nature:

• Caring Spaces, Learning Places: Children’s Environments That Work
• Drawing with Children
• Learning With Nature Idea Book
• Woodshop for Kids

In addition, we have seven Out of Box Training Kits designed to help run training sessions on environments.

Finally, this summer the World Forum Foundation is, once again offering:

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