Playground improvement project

by Peters, Jennifer.

The Child and Family Study Center is a laboratory school at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The purpose of the Center is to model best practices for students at the University who are preparing to become early childhood teachers. The dated playground equipment at the Child and Family Study Center was installed in 1970 when the center was built. As a result, the equipment designed to promote large muscle development is inadequate compared to new products on the market. The structure to date is limited to a bridge, tunnel, two small twin slides, a roller slide and monkey bars. The addition of a tire swing, a dramatic play cottage, picnic tables, a water table and a sand activity wall to the sand box would expand the opportunities currently available. Through the funding provided by this grant the addition of equipment will be made to the Child and Family Study Center playground that promotes three types of play; large motor, socio-dramatic and constructive play in preschool age children. In addition two in-service training sessions for the faculty at the Child and Family Study Center will be introduced. These in-services will be designed to orientate the teachers to the use of the new playground equipment and incorporate it into the daily curriculum.