Children Observation

Introduction
I observed three children of the age of 5 to 6 years old at the water play area in a private kindergarten. The indoor water play is located in the basement. Their names are Anna, Dean and Amy. The water play area had a huge container of water. There were about ten different water play materials for the children to manipulate, for example, funnels, hose, cups, jugs, containers and animals. The teacher-in-charge would fill the basin with water before every play and after which, she would approach the water play area every five minutes and facilitate the children’s play.
Observations
Anna held onto the water jug and scooped water to fill her jug. She poured it out into another different container and did this action repeatedly for four times. While doing this, she was whispering to herself, ‘The water is so cold!’ Anna turned to Amy and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ Amy replied saying, ‘The water keeps coming out from the holes (of the container she is using).’ ‘Use this!’ Anna suggested by handing over the jug she was holding. Meanwhile, Dean was looking for a material to help him put water into a bottle. He asked Anna and Amy, ‘Where’s the funnel?’ Anna immediately went over to the other end of the container to get the funnel for Dean. She asked Dean, ‘Can I help you fill the bottle?’ Dean nodded his head and they both started pouring water into the funnel. They were laughing and having fun filling the bottle as water splashed onto them. Amy picked up a syringe and filled it with water. She then squirted the water at Dean and the three of them started to sprinkle water at each other. They were having a lot of fun until it was time to pack up.
Analysis and Interpretation
The environment speaks to the children. When they enter a play area they will be able to tell whether it is a place for them and how you intend them to use it. Firstly, the physical environment the children have for water play in the kindergarten is developmentally appropriate as it is safe, educational and inviting. The area allocated for water play in the kindergarten is spacious and clean before the activity started. Labels are attached on the shelves. All the materials provided for the children are laminated and labeled clearly, preventing water from seeping through. Water is a form of messy play, therefore it is recommended to be placed on a tiled surface. However, the kindergarten has placed their water play on a cement floor which I reckon is as appropriate. Also, there needs to be space around the area to allow the children to move around freely (Crowther, 2008, p. 82). From what I observed in the kindergarten environment, the water play has an enormous space and therefore children are able to express themselves and move freely while playing. The container for the children is of an appropriate height as the children are able to reach to the bottom and middle. This prevents the children from losing balance and falling into the play area (Crowther, 2008, p. 82). The water play area is distinctively separated from quiet areas as it is in the basement. This prevents children playing from disrupting the rest of the children studying.
Secondly, for an indoor play area, safety is extremely important as the floor is hard, unlike in the outdoors where grass is present. The floor is easy to clean and safe for children to reach into the center of the huge container provided.
Promoting social interaction amongst children from a young age is important. Thus I feel that space is a big factor in the environment that impact children’s social interaction. If there is enough space for more than five children to play at a certain corner, more interaction would occur among them. A group of children will then be able to discuss what they are doing with the water and their materials, or even role play among themselves. The next factor would be by providing inviting materials. With sufficient and attractive materials readily available to children during their play, it would not only extend their play and interest towards the activity, it would also encourage the children to interact with their peers to find out how to use these materials appropriately.
Proposed Changes
Firstly, I would suggest that the water play area in the kindergarten should be place outdoor instead of in the basement. By having the water area outdoor, children would get to interact with the nature like the grass, mud and soil. By using their sensory skills, children are able to learn more and gain exposure to nature rather than indoor activities all the time. Also, besides just having a huge container for the children to play with, using only their hands, the centre should allow water play to involve the children’s bodies. For example, having a child-sized pool placed outdoor on the grass. This way, the children can put their hands, fingers and even feet into the water. Also, the children would be able to experiment with more materials in a different way. However, if this is not possible to be done in the centre, the centre can consider painting the basement to make it look bright and colourful. This way, children would be interested to enter the play area without being asked to and make them feel comfortable to be in. it would also extend their play and conversations between each other as they enjoy playing in a vibrant and rich environment. Another suggested idea would be to put up the children’s art pieces on the walls, covered with plastic sheets, so as not to get them wet. This is another form of enhancing the environment to make the children feel cosy and belonged. Soft lighting as well as natural and man-made items of beauty tells them that they are valued. Montessori stressed the importance of an orderly environment that helps children to focus on their learning and develop the ability to concentrate. Thus it is important that materials are placed in such a way that provides a feeling of comfort and security.
Conclusion
A developmentally appropriate environment is essential and vital for a child to grow and develop in. Therefore, all details which are important should be carefully paid attention to when designing a kindergarten environment for children. Besides the academic aspects, the educator should also make play a part of the children’s everyday curriculum as play is an essential mode of learning. Overall, I feel that a learning environment a kindergarten should establish should mirror our values for children as well as the values of the program and the children’s families. It should confirm children’s sense of identity, connection, and belonging (Who Am I in the Lives of Children, 2006, p.246).