At the very heart of AMIGA Montessori’s mission is to create ‘a learning environment full of fun and learning’. And with the opening of a new first floor play area at their Maddingley Centre, that’s exactly what we’ve worked with them to deliver.
Site: AMIGA Montessori Maddingley Childcare Centre, 10 McCormacks Road, Maddingley, Victoria
Client: AMIGA Montessori
Developer: Empire Properties
Age Range: 6 months to 6 years old
Year: 2023
Located 61 km north-west of the Melbourne CBD, the purpose built childcare centre at AMIGA Montessori Maddingley is one of a growing number of AMIGA Montessori centres across the city and suburbs. Their focus is to create an environment where children learn ‘concentration, motivation, self-discipline, independence and a love of learning’.
“This style of playground helps prepare children for the obstacles they’ll face in their life,” explains Max Bergh, CEO of AMIGA Montessori. “In the past, there was a tendency to ‘dumb-down’ playgrounds. This was out of fear children will hurt themselves. Safety was the key concern. Part of our philosophy at Montessori is to challenge children to grow and explore their limits.”
“Everything we do here has an educational lens to it. We want to offer sensorial experience through texture and colour. Risky play also has an important lesson element, and children learn best when they’re having fun.” Max Bergh, CEO AMIGA Montessori, 2023
Proludic’s design solutions offer something for every age and ability level
Designing fun, dynamic play opportunities to support the early development of children is a core feature of Proludic’s play equipment solutions.
With our long history of working with childcare professionals, our team are experienced at designing custom solutions which both encourage children’s learning and support teachers in their educational role.
The Maddingley Child Care Centre playspace needed to fulfil these important goals:
- Design activities that both challenged and stimulated children in different age groups (6 months to 6 years old) and with varying abilities.
- Create a play area that had a natural feel, recreating natural elements.
- Offer sensorial experiences through varying textures and colours.
- Support independent and social play while making supervision easy.
We worked closely with the client in creating the playspace solution. To cater for the different ages and abilities of the children, we designed play zones. These are marked out using different surfaces and colours. We’ve also used raised planters, sandpits, and sensory paths. These identify separate areas as well as stimulate interest and inspire kids’ imagination.
A playspace for children aged 6 months to 2 years
The Diabolo Baby Multiplay unit offers the centre’s youngest children ample opportunities for motor and sensory experiences through a range of activities. Children are guided through a sequence of climbing and sliding activities that stimulate their motor and fine motor skills. They’re also encouraged to role-play and interact with their playmates. We’ve designed these activities to be no more than 60cm high, making them easy to access for this age group.
A colourful shaded Playhouse offers young children interactive play panels to stimulate their visual and tactile development. They can also explore space and movement as they crawl through a small tunnel or shelter in the cubby with a new-found friend.
Children love experimenting with movement on the Looping Springer. As they swing and rock, they learn body control, balance, and coordination. Bright and colourful, the small-scale Rainbow Chimes inspire creativity, joy, and a love of music through sound.
Increasing the challenge: designing a fun, active area for toddlers
Toddlers are always on the move as they develop their motor skills and explore their senses. The 2 to 3 year old toddler play zone is full of opportunities for fun exploration and skills development, with equipment that supports play along with a sandpit, planters and sensory pathway.
Children learn to climb, hide, and slide on the junior Kanope Multiplay. With shapes inspired by nature, Kanope play equipment also gives children an opportunity to navigate different spaces, inspiring imaginative play.
The Tortoise Springer is a fun addition to this play area, the perfect ally for developing balance and physical coordination in young children. The Well offers children the sensory stimulation of water play. As the water splashes and trickles between their fingers, they develop both gross and fine motor skills and join with others in creative play.
The sensory pathway with pebbles, bamboo, timber and paving stones stimulates childrens’ sensory awareness as they walk along to the sand pit. Playing with sand is one of the joys of childhood and a great source of sensory experiences. There is plenty of room in the sand pit to experiment with the weight, texture, shape and volume of sand.
The junior playspace for children aged 3 to 6 years
This area is devoted to children in the older age group, and is equipped with play features that engage them in fun, imaginative and active play.
The Kanope Multiplay unit accommodates up to 15 children. It offers a range of activities including climbing, sliding, and balancing. As well as promoting dexterity, balance, and coordination, the tilted bridge helps build self-confidence as children successfully traverse its length. Ideal for encouraging social interaction, it also includes a place where children can play in a space on their own.
The Balancing Trail supports a child’s physical and psychosocial progress through movement. It helps build a sense of personal achievement as well as supporting physical prowess and coordination. The classic slide is always exciting and fun for kids of all ages. The junior play area includes the Kayak Embankment Slide which was built into a purpose-made raised area.
The Washhouse provides kids with a fun and stimulating water play element. Children are encouraged to play together, learning to interact with others as they have fun experimenting with water.
Children love the sensation of rocking back and forth, and the Quatro seesaw is the perfect way for little ones to rock together whilst developing their sense of balance and coordination. The Double Inclusive Whirlwind is also a fun feature of the junior play area. This equipment offers children the chance to experiment with speed as they go round and round.
In quieter moments children can express their emotions, develop their sense of rhythm, and experiment with sound on the small Babel Drum.
Brightly coloured Picnic Tables placed near a herb and veggie garden give children a place to rest and talk to their friends.
Hear more from Max Bergh, CEO of AMIGA Montessori, about working with Proludic.
