The youngsters of HeronBridge Pre-Preparatory will have even more chance to learn through play now that the Fantasy Village at the school is open for business.
On 9 November, the children in grades R, 00, 000 and 0000 got to explore the new Fantasy Village set up in the HeronBridge School grounds. For its launch, children were asked to come to school dressed as what they want to be when they grow up, meaning that plenty of doctors and police officers (and more than a few Wonder Women) populated the village, where a child-sized grocery store (complete with real grocery goods), soft play room, school, hospital, fire station and restaurant had been built.
“This was my brainchild,” said Glynis Courtney, head of the pre-primary.
“I went to Australia a few years ago and saw an ‘I want to be’ play centre and thought that I’d love to build something like that here.
“This sort of set up can help kids understand and learn things like language, cooperation [with other children] and fine motor skills.”
The construction of the village started at the end of July. The school got some extra help with the grocery store from the Tarr family who owns the SPAR at Broadacres Shopping Centre and who donated groceries and helped set up the store to make it more real.
“Children do not learn best behind a desk, they learn best through play,” added Courtney, who has her honours degree in Early Childhood Development. “The teachers will work with the children in the village during school time. They will set the tone and engage in conversations with the kids around the activities.”
