Providing opportunities for children to experience risk and challenge is an important part of our curriculum. The teachers were reflecting on how to provide further challenge within our outdoor area and decided to create a high ropes course.

This was a new experience for many children, which required courage, problem-solving, persistence and concentration to master. Teachers supported children’s learning by praising their efforts, encouraging them to keep trying and celebrating with them when they achieved the goals they had set for themselves.

Serafina, reflecting on her experience taking on this challenge, shared, “I hurted my hands when I was doing that. It took ages, almost the whole day!”  When asked how it felt to achieve the goal of getting up onto the ropes, Serafina replied, “I didn’t give up, I tried and tried and tried, and I could do it! I felt so proud of myself.”

Another child shared, “I was trying to get the high one, not the low one. I felt happy when I did it, when I was at the Bikeathon!”

We believe that children who develop the disposition to persevere in the face of difficulty or uncertainty will meet challenges in their future with determination and optimism – essential foundations for future learning!