Published on: 22 April 2021





On Wednesday over 500 boys from Christ Church Grammar School’s Preparatory School had the opportunity to run, jump and climb all over the School’s new nature-play based playground.

The playground, designed by Nature Play Solutions, incorporates sustainable materials in its construction and integrates seamlessly into the current landscape of the School.

Having conducted extensive research into the benefits of free, outdoor nature-play to the development of boys, the School intends to incorporate the use of the playground into its teaching curriculum.

Head of Preparatory School Dr. Steven Males said, “One of the best lessons children can be taught in their early years is to play outdoors.”

“Playing outdoors is important for developing capacities for creativity, symbolic play, problem solving and intellectual development. Outdoor play has clear physical benefits for developing children such as helping to improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and assisting to prevent obesity,” explained Dr. Males.

As part of the preparation and research phase preceding the playground’s construction, the School engaged the boys in the Preparatory School and recorded their perspectives and which playground apparatus they would most like to see in a new playground.

Based on the boys’ feedback, input from teachers and Nature Play Solutions, the new playground was constructed to emphasise the connectivity of apparatus, connecting spaces and pathways, and also clever use of mix-use equipment offering a wide range of activities and the opportunity for creative play.