Look for Similar
Play on Equipment Climbing Trees and Swinging Ropes
- Functions
- Physical Play and Play with Equipment/Props
Climbing trees and swinging from ropes hanging from trees is a popular activity.
Details
At School 17
Climbing trees and swinging from ropes hanging from trees is a popular activity at School 17 and has a long tradition. There are large quantities of very thick rope that have been hung in trees around the school grounds and children use these regularly, taking turns.
Climbing trees in an unsupervised capacity is encouraged at the school and the children are encouraged to climb as high as they like, providing they feel safe. This is considered by staff as encouraging children to challenge themselves, explore their limits and practise responsible risk taking.
In the past, there were numerous trees in the front garden that have since been chopped down at the request of a parent who deemed them to be dangerous. At this time there were ropes linking these trees that students would use to climb or swing from one tree to another. According to one of the teachers at School 17, the older children wore black arm bands for a week after these trees were cut down to show their disappointment.