WEBVTT 00:00:00.130 --> 00:00:04.610 The concept of Loose Parts by Simon Nixon was that how not to cheat children. 00:00:04.620 --> 00:00:08.640 Children live in a world created by the gifted few. 00:00:11.569 --> 00:00:16.129 Hello and welcome to Blooming Curious, a podcast that's all about nurturing that 00:00:16.180 --> 00:00:19.159 natural curiosity in our early years kids. 00:00:20.755 --> 00:00:25.044 I'm Edwina, your host from the Ed's Lessons blog, a passionate advocate for 00:00:25.044 --> 00:00:29.744 play and inquiry, and on a mission to keep children curious and questioning. 00:00:30.255 --> 00:00:32.695 The days of talk and chalk are over. 00:00:33.054 --> 00:00:38.045 We're diving into the world of integrated, inquiry and nature based learning. 00:00:38.510 --> 00:00:41.750 and exploring the strategies that create lifelong learners. 00:00:42.230 --> 00:00:46.989 So if you're a classroom or homeschool educator, or even a curious parent, 00:00:47.239 --> 00:00:49.140 then this is the place for you. 00:00:50.180 --> 00:00:51.269 Right, welcome everybody. 00:00:51.269 --> 00:00:55.009 Today we're having our very first guest appearance on Blooming Curious. 00:00:55.040 --> 00:00:58.510 We welcome Ashley Sharp or Miss Sharp as she's been known. 00:00:59.029 --> 00:01:03.320 Ash is an early childhood educator, Play Ambassador and founder of 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:08.580 Playmore, a newly established business based in here in Western Australia. 00:01:08.965 --> 00:01:12.075 Focusing on the importance of play in child development. 00:01:12.505 --> 00:01:15.955 Ash's work as a classroom teacher on and off for the past decade. 00:01:16.265 --> 00:01:21.515 And last year decided to turn her passion for play based learning into play more. 00:01:21.855 --> 00:01:26.574 In addition, Ash is a wife and a mom to a gorgeous five year old son with 00:01:26.574 --> 00:01:30.765 whom every day is an opportunity to discover, grow, and play. 00:01:31.134 --> 00:01:31.975 So welcome Ash. 00:01:31.975 --> 00:01:33.735 It's great to have you on the show today. 00:01:34.605 --> 00:01:37.755 Um, to kick things off, thanks Ash. 00:01:38.679 --> 00:01:43.340 Um, to kick things off for those listeners who might not be familiar, 00:01:44.039 --> 00:01:50.220 could you give them an explanation of what exactly loose parts are and why you 00:01:50.220 --> 00:01:55.630 believe that loose parts are so crucial to child development and creativity? 00:01:55.859 --> 00:01:56.970 Yeah, I'd love to. 00:01:56.970 --> 00:01:58.310 And thanks for having me. 00:01:58.460 --> 00:02:00.630 I'm very honoured to be your first guest. 00:02:00.660 --> 00:02:06.590 Um, yeah, I guess Loose Parts, when we think about it is, you know, bits thing 00:02:06.660 --> 00:02:12.030 of things kids play with, but it actually, um, there's a theory of Loose Parts, um, 00:02:12.070 --> 00:02:18.230 and it goes back to the seventies where it was, um, in an article by, um, a landscape 00:02:18.270 --> 00:02:22.535 architect called Simon Nicholson, and he devise a theory of loose part. 00:02:22.545 --> 00:02:27.475 So I'll read the theory and then I'm, I can discuss what I think about it. 00:02:27.505 --> 00:02:32.884 Um, and he says in any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and 00:02:32.885 --> 00:02:38.194 creativity and the possibility of discovery are directly proportional to 00:02:38.195 --> 00:02:40.815 the number and kind of variables in it. 00:02:41.630 --> 00:02:48.000 So variables, I guess, um, are all the bits and the things, so, um, natural 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:54.729 materials, building materials, scrap materials, things that can be moved, 00:02:54.759 --> 00:03:02.920 carried, combined, redesigned, put back together, um, multiple different ways. 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:08.230 Child controlled, like the children are in control of their environment. 00:03:08.600 --> 00:03:13.175 Uh, they empower creativity and Um, allow children to have 00:03:13.175 --> 00:03:15.635 a say of their environment. 00:03:15.695 --> 00:03:21.105 Um, basically similar as that, how not to cheat children. 00:03:21.124 --> 00:03:27.084 Children live in a world created by the gifted few, environments created 00:03:27.084 --> 00:03:31.845 by others, and that robs them of the opportunity to create themselves. 00:03:31.855 --> 00:03:36.204 So when they're in an environment with these loose parts or 00:03:36.214 --> 00:03:40.834 variables, they are empowered to create their own environments. 00:03:41.885 --> 00:03:47.424 I'm not sure if that makes sense to me, um, but yeah, it can be a wild 00:03:47.424 --> 00:03:52.984 concept, I guess, because, um, you know, we kind of live in a static 00:03:53.014 --> 00:03:57.404 world where everything's set up for us. 00:03:57.405 --> 00:04:01.755 How much agency do we really have over our environment? 00:04:02.374 --> 00:04:06.015 So yeah, putting a few things out and a variety of things 00:04:06.045 --> 00:04:07.535 and stepping back, I think. 00:04:08.670 --> 00:04:13.470 gives children the opportunity to create their environment with these parts. 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.260 It's a very, it's a very, yeah, broad topic, but. 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:19.959 Yeah, it's great. 00:04:20.320 --> 00:04:23.849 You know, I just actually had a thought this morning when I was thinking about 00:04:23.890 --> 00:04:26.719 this recording and having you on. 00:04:26.760 --> 00:04:30.950 I was thinking, you know, when I was a kid, Which really, I 00:04:30.950 --> 00:04:32.420 mean, I was born in the 60s. 00:04:32.430 --> 00:04:36.440 So really my really early childhood was late 60s, early 70s. 00:04:37.390 --> 00:04:42.370 We played with loose parts, unbeknown to us that they were loose parts. 00:04:42.769 --> 00:04:46.830 You know, I know for example, uh, the back of my grandparents 00:04:46.830 --> 00:04:49.959 house was just this empty land. 00:04:50.460 --> 00:04:55.200 And for some reason there was this discarded bit of kitchen cap cabinetry. 00:04:55.760 --> 00:05:01.175 And As kids, we would just find odds and sods, you know, empty tin cans and bottles 00:05:01.175 --> 00:05:05.245 and all sorts of things, fill them up and we'd pretend and play shop, you know? 00:05:05.535 --> 00:05:09.164 And so those were the response, you know, the, all those things 00:05:09.165 --> 00:05:14.755 that we used to create and have fun with, they weren't ball things, 00:05:14.804 --> 00:05:15.904 they were actually loose pipe. 00:05:16.565 --> 00:05:19.795 So in a way, it's like we're going back to the future, you know? 00:05:19.795 --> 00:05:19.989 They 00:05:19.989 --> 00:05:22.365 were the days, even me. 00:05:22.719 --> 00:05:23.180 Those are the days 00:05:24.380 --> 00:05:26.530 before Plastic Fantastic, you know. 00:05:27.260 --> 00:05:27.669 Yeah. 00:05:27.830 --> 00:05:32.419 Ash, um, could you share a journey that you've, how you incorporated 00:05:32.419 --> 00:05:34.070 loose parts in your classroom? 00:05:34.559 --> 00:05:38.830 Because I think for a lot of educators, you know, everything now. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:44.630 Or for a lot of them, everything's so organized, you know, um, 00:05:45.150 --> 00:05:48.700 educators are so rushed with the timetable and fitting stuff in. 00:05:49.269 --> 00:05:51.070 Um, what about your experience? 00:05:51.070 --> 00:05:55.510 How did you incorporate loose parts into your teaching? 00:05:55.839 --> 00:06:00.219 So I think that might help a lot of teachers to see, well, it is possible. 00:06:00.269 --> 00:06:03.269 They can actually do this in an education setting. 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:05.100 And obviously for parents. 00:06:06.245 --> 00:06:09.335 Yeah, it's something that can easily be done if you're a homeschooler, 00:06:09.474 --> 00:06:14.414 for example, or just as at home with your kids, it's almost 00:06:14.414 --> 00:06:16.034 become second nature, I think. 00:06:16.545 --> 00:06:21.004 But for teachers, I think sometimes they worry so much about everything they 00:06:21.015 --> 00:06:25.995 have to cover that sometimes we lose sight of the really important things, 00:06:26.005 --> 00:06:31.349 even though we know they're important, that sometimes We lose sight of how 00:06:31.349 --> 00:06:33.190 to do those things that really matter. 00:06:33.540 --> 00:06:37.750 How did you incorporate them into your classroom? 00:06:38.150 --> 00:06:39.099 Great question. 00:06:39.130 --> 00:06:45.859 Um, I feel like I really started to understand more of the loose parts 00:06:45.869 --> 00:06:50.280 theory and mindset towards the end of my time, um, in the classroom. 00:06:50.700 --> 00:06:53.909 And it was something I really wish I could have explored more. 00:06:55.070 --> 00:07:00.780 But it was about creating environments, I feel, that the children could feel 00:07:00.780 --> 00:07:08.409 empowered to Create, so creating an environment that gave them agency 00:07:08.409 --> 00:07:11.459 that they felt free to create within. 00:07:11.529 --> 00:07:18.369 Um, so that involved, I guess, putting out things that were, you know, open ended 00:07:18.369 --> 00:07:24.599 in terms of the blocks and the toys, but I think it's also about the environment 00:07:25.159 --> 00:07:27.619 you create with your presence and words. 00:07:28.655 --> 00:07:32.635 Um, they're, they're also loose parts in a sense, um, where 00:07:32.635 --> 00:07:36.425 variables in the environment, like, um, Nicholson refers to. 00:07:36.805 --> 00:07:42.025 So for me, that was also a language, uh, a environment created with my 00:07:42.025 --> 00:07:46.925 language that I would use with the children, um, and the other adults. 00:07:47.214 --> 00:07:49.504 I think that's so important. 00:07:49.575 --> 00:07:52.915 Um, language is something that we all use. 00:07:53.835 --> 00:07:59.164 But we don't realize, I think the impact it has, sometimes we talk 00:07:59.164 --> 00:08:01.304 too much, we interfere too much. 00:08:01.655 --> 00:08:07.235 So just Sometimes it's about letting go and not controlling the environment 00:08:07.235 --> 00:08:09.535 so much, giving the kids that freedom. 00:08:10.605 --> 00:08:14.855 Also, I feel like I was going somewhere else with the environment. 00:08:15.425 --> 00:08:21.405 Giving kids the choice to, giving kids the time to create. 00:08:22.004 --> 00:08:25.854 I think school structure is so scheduled, like you said. 00:08:26.825 --> 00:08:32.365 Sometimes it might take up to an hour for true play to come through and that 00:08:32.365 --> 00:08:35.765 can be hard when you've got to get on the mat for your literacy session. 00:08:35.765 --> 00:08:41.674 But I think the kids really need that time within the environment and that's 00:08:41.674 --> 00:08:44.975 also, you know, whether it's indoor, outdoor, outdoors, obviously more 00:08:45.044 --> 00:08:53.475 ideal for, um, larger play, um, offers more opportunities, but yeah, just. 00:08:53.985 --> 00:08:59.695 Stepping back, observing, creating that environment with your language, 00:09:00.405 --> 00:09:07.815 um, and providing materials that allow kids to think, not scripted. 00:09:08.465 --> 00:09:12.675 Like the block, uh, the, like the, you know, sticks, rocks, but 00:09:12.675 --> 00:09:18.405 also like materials, um, tires and probably things considered dangerous. 00:09:18.415 --> 00:09:24.294 You might want to say people, people often go to dangerous things, but risky play has 00:09:24.295 --> 00:09:28.275 its own benefits as well, which is a whole nother, probably a whole nother talk. 00:09:28.825 --> 00:09:29.425 Um. 00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:32.189 Risk is so important, isn't it? 00:09:32.239 --> 00:09:35.489 There's, you know, there has to be an element of risk for children. 00:09:35.770 --> 00:09:40.389 I mean, I remember hearing a talk not long ago saying that because we're taking away 00:09:40.739 --> 00:09:46.699 risky play from children, it might be one of the reasons why later in life, so many 00:09:46.699 --> 00:09:50.920 kids take massive risks that can actually end their life, unfortunately, because 00:09:50.920 --> 00:09:55.670 they haven't had that exposure to tiny little risks throughout their childhood. 00:09:55.670 --> 00:09:56.199 You know that? 00:09:56.540 --> 00:09:57.290 So I don't know. 00:09:57.819 --> 00:09:59.239 Oh yeah, I've heard that too. 00:09:59.665 --> 00:10:00.185 I read. 00:10:00.275 --> 00:10:01.204 So, yeah. 00:10:01.265 --> 00:10:01.704 Yes. 00:10:02.235 --> 00:10:05.285 And it's a funny thing that you're saying is letting kids or 00:10:05.285 --> 00:10:09.205 a lot of teachers actually just having to step back and let go. 00:10:09.235 --> 00:10:14.105 And it's the same thing for inquiry based learning, you know, it's having 00:10:14.235 --> 00:10:20.025 that courage to just let go and, and let's see what the kids can do. 00:10:20.464 --> 00:10:21.365 And those. 00:10:22.105 --> 00:10:26.965 Loose parts are essentially provocations, provocations for creating, for 00:10:26.965 --> 00:10:28.875 thinking, for problem solving. 00:10:29.385 --> 00:10:33.035 And essentially that's what education is and should be, isn't that right? 00:10:33.035 --> 00:10:33.315 Oh yeah, 00:10:33.315 --> 00:10:34.025 definitely. 00:10:34.595 --> 00:10:38.565 It, it, the benefits of the loose parts mindset is. 00:10:39.025 --> 00:10:39.314 Yeah. 00:10:39.325 --> 00:10:43.985 Very important for life, um, learning for life really. 00:10:44.255 --> 00:10:50.115 And Ash, what was that moment when you realized in your personal experience, the 00:10:50.155 --> 00:10:52.565 impact that loose parts had on children? 00:10:53.285 --> 00:10:54.785 Can you recall a moment? 00:10:55.290 --> 00:10:59.110 When you realized this is really the way it should be, this is the 00:10:59.110 --> 00:11:01.110 way I need to go with these kids. 00:11:01.930 --> 00:11:02.849 That's a good question. 00:11:02.849 --> 00:11:05.930 I was reflecting on my time in the system. 00:11:06.009 --> 00:11:09.280 Um, I would say maybe a couple of years into. 00:11:10.490 --> 00:11:19.950 Um, my teaching, I think it was 2016, it had been raining, um, and we were 00:11:19.950 --> 00:11:22.440 inside and the kids were fascinated. 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:25.680 I mean, I was a kindergarten teacher, so the three to five 00:11:25.680 --> 00:11:27.519 year olds, um, and it was raining. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:31.480 So of course the kids were really excited by that and we were inside 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:35.680 and they wanted to go outside and I was like, yeah, let's just go outside. 00:11:35.970 --> 00:11:39.090 So we went outside and I think there was some still things 00:11:39.090 --> 00:11:40.310 left out there from lunch. 00:11:40.310 --> 00:11:46.015 So the buckets and spades and they were just getting buckets and They were filling 00:11:46.015 --> 00:11:50.704 up a bucket with, uh, some water that was dripping from a pipe and they were 00:11:50.704 --> 00:11:57.354 just so excited and happy and, and just, I don't know, it just reflecting back on 00:11:57.354 --> 00:12:02.264 that moment, it was a real turning point for me as a, an educator, a teacher, I 00:12:02.265 --> 00:12:07.425 guess, because how many people would look on and say, well, they should be inside. 00:12:07.770 --> 00:12:09.010 They can't go out and get wet. 00:12:09.020 --> 00:12:10.329 Like their shoes were off. 00:12:10.530 --> 00:12:14.030 That's all I was so controlled by rules. 00:12:14.060 --> 00:12:18.260 I think just letting go and stepping back and letting them be in that moment. 00:12:18.260 --> 00:12:23.129 Kids was so pivotal for me. 00:12:23.449 --> 00:12:28.590 Um, and I just, I feel like I learned so much from them and that we do, like, 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:33.880 if we really allow it, we, we can learn so much from kids and that's what I, 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:36.360 I guess turned my role into being. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:42.170 A mentor and a guide, uh, more of a, a coach. 00:12:42.180 --> 00:12:47.170 I wanted to be a coach and learn alongside the kids, um, and seeing, 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:55.300 being, not seeing myself above the children, I guess, seeing, um, us as. 00:12:55.690 --> 00:12:59.220 equals in a way that we can learn and grow together from each other. 00:12:59.220 --> 00:12:59.990 I'm not in charge. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.490 I don't know if that answered your question. 00:13:01.490 --> 00:13:07.490 I'm sorry, but that was a moment that really changed for me, um, as educator. 00:13:07.970 --> 00:13:12.499 I think that's, yeah, no, that's just, I think that's so, as 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:15.189 you said, it's very touching. 00:13:15.210 --> 00:13:18.810 And as you were saying that I myself was reflecting on moments 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:21.439 and I really felt your passion. 00:13:21.470 --> 00:13:27.040 Um, as you were saying that, I think many teachers have You know, and can 00:13:27.040 --> 00:13:33.869 recall those incidents where if you just stop and have a look, kids are 00:13:33.869 --> 00:13:39.670 learning so much and then it's, it's, it's just stopping yourself, not 00:13:39.689 --> 00:13:43.869 interfering, not worrying about the timetable, not worrying about the next 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:45.439 thing that you're supposed to be doing. 00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:49.829 Because in those teachable moments, I think that's where the real 00:13:49.839 --> 00:13:54.570 authentic learning can take place if we just let it, you know, so 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.380 it's, it's pretty powerful stuff. 00:13:57.770 --> 00:14:04.670 Loose parts or provocations really, they're a game changer in any setting. 00:14:05.760 --> 00:14:11.169 I'm curious to know what challenges you may have faced, um, with loose parts 00:14:11.170 --> 00:14:13.270 when things perhaps didn't go as planned. 00:14:14.219 --> 00:14:17.939 Can you share with us how you navigated those moments? 00:14:18.540 --> 00:14:22.230 I think the biggest challenge is people approaching them 00:14:22.330 --> 00:14:24.250 and not knowing what it is. 00:14:24.870 --> 00:14:31.005 Through my business now, I. I guess do pop up play sessions, um, with loose parts. 00:14:31.015 --> 00:14:37.084 So I bring a whole heap of just random bits and I put them in a location. 00:14:37.265 --> 00:14:40.494 Um, and then it's sort of a free for all space for people 00:14:40.494 --> 00:14:42.994 walking past to interact with. 00:14:43.295 --> 00:14:46.204 Um, so that opens it up to mixed ages from, you know, 00:14:46.204 --> 00:14:47.875 babies up until even adults. 00:14:48.474 --> 00:14:52.885 But a lot of the people sort of just look at it and say to me, 00:14:52.885 --> 00:14:54.584 what am I meant to do with this? 00:14:55.074 --> 00:14:56.734 And I think that really goes to show. 00:14:58.155 --> 00:15:06.064 That, yeah, we don't really understand the idea of, of that open ended play. 00:15:06.765 --> 00:15:11.855 So I guess my role there is to say, and I always say, it's for your ideas. 00:15:12.870 --> 00:15:15.010 And it's like, whoa, hold the phone. 00:15:15.020 --> 00:15:19.860 We, and that goes back to that notion of the gifted few. 00:15:20.579 --> 00:15:25.649 Um, not every, like we are all gifted if we allow ourself to be 00:15:25.649 --> 00:15:30.540 creative and the loose parts are a vehicle for us to be creative. 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:36.849 Um, and sometimes it takes a while for the kids or the adults to get into it. 00:15:37.310 --> 00:15:41.880 Um, they sort of hold back, they look at other people, but then they might pick 00:15:41.880 --> 00:15:46.439 something up and just say, it's a formula can really good loose part, by the way. 00:15:46.949 --> 00:15:50.430 They can take the lid off, they can put something inside, they can roll it, they 00:15:50.430 --> 00:15:52.589 can stack it, they can use it as a drum. 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:59.009 Suddenly it has all these other uses, and it used to hold some powder, but now they 00:15:59.009 --> 00:16:01.839 can see it has all these other options. 00:16:01.839 --> 00:16:03.239 Let's add a pipe. 00:16:03.929 --> 00:16:06.500 We could put a pipe in it, we could stack a pipe on top. 00:16:07.140 --> 00:16:11.069 One of my favorite things is stacking them like tempin bowling. 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:16.010 And then using like some kind of, uh, I think a buoy, we have like a foam buoy, 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:18.460 um, and they roll it and play bowling. 00:16:19.280 --> 00:16:23.100 So yeah, I think it takes time. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:29.149 It might not be straight away that people know what to do, but like I said, if you 00:16:29.149 --> 00:16:34.150 stand back and give the time, I think that that's the best thing I can give. 00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:40.500 Is provide the space and then step back and provide appropriate support in terms 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:47.279 of the language that I use, um, and then hopefully model that to, um, other adults 00:16:48.069 --> 00:16:52.540 rather than tell, like, it's easy for an adult to bring their ideas into something. 00:16:53.390 --> 00:16:57.080 Um, but then that robs the opportunity for the child to discover it for themselves. 00:16:57.090 --> 00:17:00.640 So like, you should do this, you should do that, don't do this, don't do that. 00:17:00.930 --> 00:17:05.259 That's creating that, that, that language, that environment where 00:17:05.300 --> 00:17:07.260 they feel restricted to create. 00:17:08.010 --> 00:17:12.450 And we want children to harness their creativity because 00:17:12.450 --> 00:17:13.780 we're all born creative. 00:17:14.010 --> 00:17:20.339 I do have to mention a study, um, that I was reading about, about creativeness. 00:17:20.459 --> 00:17:22.489 Um, it was back in the early nineties. 00:17:22.499 --> 00:17:25.709 So a while ago now, but I feel like it would still be relevant. 00:17:25.739 --> 00:17:32.145 Um, and it was a. So NASA, they do a creative thinking test with their 00:17:32.145 --> 00:17:36.524 employees and they did, and they decided to do it on four and five year olds 00:17:36.534 --> 00:17:39.465 to see how, um, creative they were. 00:17:40.014 --> 00:17:46.465 And 98 percent of children aged four to five tested as creative 00:17:46.465 --> 00:17:49.674 geniuses in their, in their tests. 00:17:49.684 --> 00:17:53.165 And then they decided to test the same kids as they got 00:17:53.175 --> 00:17:56.264 older, and then at 10 years old. 00:17:56.915 --> 00:18:03.425 It was 30 percent creative genius, and then 15 years was 12 percent and 00:18:03.425 --> 00:18:05.824 then adults, do you want to guess? 00:18:06.345 --> 00:18:07.965 2 percent or something around there? 00:18:07.965 --> 00:18:09.475 Yeah, less than 2%. 00:18:10.135 --> 00:18:11.795 So I guess what does that show? 00:18:12.414 --> 00:18:17.164 We're sort of like educated out of our creative capabilities. 00:18:17.995 --> 00:18:18.315 Yeah, 00:18:21.695 --> 00:18:26.995 it's a funny thing because in the previous few episodes of this podcast, I've been 00:18:27.305 --> 00:18:31.794 focusing on just the things that we do as educators, either as homeschool 00:18:31.794 --> 00:18:35.565 educators or classroom educators just to get started in the beginning of the year. 00:18:36.025 --> 00:18:39.995 And so the last two posts have been about the environment of a third 00:18:39.995 --> 00:18:42.035 teacher, both indoors and outdoors. 00:18:42.435 --> 00:18:43.215 And I've been. 00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:47.950 Mentioning about loose parts and different strategies to get loose parts out and 00:18:47.950 --> 00:18:49.610 what some other educators have done. 00:18:50.260 --> 00:18:54.810 And, you know, that whole aspect of being creative and thinking for yourself, 00:18:54.810 --> 00:18:58.859 that is so essential in our environment to provide those elements for children 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:01.230 to create without our interference. 00:19:01.760 --> 00:19:02.220 And. 00:19:03.050 --> 00:19:06.639 We almost school creativity out of children. 00:19:07.110 --> 00:19:09.290 Um, and I know the late great Ken Robinsons 00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:09.820 spoke a lot about that. 00:19:09.830 --> 00:19:13.000 Yes, I've got my notes in front of me with his quote highlighted or something. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:15.470 Yeah, that's always in the back of my head. 00:19:15.870 --> 00:19:18.729 You know, Ken Robinsons saying schools kill creativity. 00:19:18.969 --> 00:19:22.360 And I know when I'm standing in a classroom, I've always got Ken Robinsons 00:19:22.409 --> 00:19:26.300 voice in my head thinking, crikey, I must make sure not to kill kids creativity. 00:19:26.895 --> 00:19:31.114 And I think for myself, he's had such a, he's been such a mentor 00:19:31.144 --> 00:19:36.055 and such a massive influence and remembering to give kids that agency. 00:19:36.424 --> 00:19:40.744 And so the last few blog posts and podcasts have been about that. 00:19:40.745 --> 00:19:43.095 So anybody who's listening to this today. 00:19:43.470 --> 00:19:47.270 might be a good idea to also go back and just see that because I think, 00:19:47.410 --> 00:19:52.409 Ash, your and my ideas really sort of dovetail and think it's just something 00:19:52.410 --> 00:19:58.450 that parents and teachers really have to listen to and, and heed because 00:19:59.050 --> 00:20:00.740 it's almost like a warning, right? 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:04.490 Because even people at Google with all their technology, I've read lots 00:20:04.490 --> 00:20:07.990 of things where they don't even allow their kids to be on technology and 00:20:07.990 --> 00:20:13.419 they are in the technological world because they understand how it can. 00:20:14.015 --> 00:20:18.375 stifle creativity and where then they themselves don't spend all 00:20:18.375 --> 00:20:20.935 the time just on technology. 00:20:21.345 --> 00:20:24.444 They take some time out in order to be creative. 00:20:24.455 --> 00:20:26.954 So I think that's really important for our children. 00:20:28.224 --> 00:20:31.704 So Ash, how do these materials do you think? 00:20:31.704 --> 00:20:36.264 We've spoken a lot about creativity, but what about academic development 00:20:36.274 --> 00:20:39.605 where I think a lot of people would say, Oh yeah, but that's all great. 00:20:39.635 --> 00:20:41.375 But it's all about academics. 00:20:42.005 --> 00:20:45.034 What are your thoughts on how loose parts. 00:20:45.360 --> 00:20:46.469 Impact academic 00:20:46.469 --> 00:20:46.940 performance. 00:20:47.710 --> 00:20:48.990 Oh, that's a great one. 00:20:49.910 --> 00:20:55.255 Well, I like to Go back to the notion of play and learning through 00:20:55.255 --> 00:21:00.465 play, we're born hard wired to play. 00:21:00.615 --> 00:21:08.944 Um, we have amazing brain capacity, um, and play aids our development, 00:21:08.995 --> 00:21:10.385 our holistic development. 00:21:10.425 --> 00:21:14.785 So that includes, you know, physical, emotional, social. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.830 Cognitive and language. 00:21:16.830 --> 00:21:22.820 So, you know, when we're playing with loose pods, we're thinking we might, 00:21:22.910 --> 00:21:24.820 we're interacting with other children. 00:21:24.849 --> 00:21:31.819 We're having, you know, resolving conflicts and talking to one 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:35.279 another, or maybe just thinking about ideas in our head. 00:21:35.695 --> 00:21:38.695 But all those are the building blocks for academics. 00:21:38.715 --> 00:21:43.215 So they're not, um, you're, you know, spatial, spatial recognition, you're 00:21:43.895 --> 00:21:50.534 stacking and seeing shapes around you and counting and sorting and organizing. 00:21:50.544 --> 00:21:57.144 And I just find academics are embedded and integrated into the everyday. 00:21:57.910 --> 00:21:58.370 Yeah. 00:21:58.430 --> 00:22:01.640 It's, it's just part of life. 00:22:01.970 --> 00:22:02.250 No, 00:22:02.330 --> 00:22:02.460 totally. 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:05.580 I mean, you can't, I don't think you can separate the two. 00:22:06.610 --> 00:22:08.610 I think the one feeds off the other, right? 00:22:08.870 --> 00:22:13.660 Because if a kid's not happy and they haven't got agency, 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.899 they're not going to learn. 00:22:15.950 --> 00:22:16.860 We know that. 00:22:16.930 --> 00:22:22.530 So, you know, the two go hand in hand and you can't separate them in my mind anyway. 00:22:22.870 --> 00:22:26.260 You're more likely to remember things that. 00:22:26.505 --> 00:22:28.855 are more meaningful and relevant to use. 00:22:29.165 --> 00:22:32.825 So when you're in a space where you feel free to think and create on 00:22:32.825 --> 00:22:36.724 your own terms, you're more likely to embed that into your brain. 00:22:36.725 --> 00:22:38.584 Your neural connections are stronger. 00:22:39.144 --> 00:22:39.424 Couldn't 00:22:39.425 --> 00:22:40.475 agree more with that. 00:22:41.444 --> 00:22:45.194 As an educator in education, there's often this very focus 00:22:45.195 --> 00:22:46.595 on the structured learning. 00:22:47.255 --> 00:22:50.795 How did you balance or how do you have advice for educators? 00:22:51.305 --> 00:22:51.835 out there. 00:22:52.065 --> 00:22:53.905 How do you balance loose parts? 00:22:53.945 --> 00:22:57.485 How do you bring them in to balance that structured environment? 00:22:57.865 --> 00:23:02.215 Um, I think honestly, it all goes just back to trusting kids. 00:23:03.095 --> 00:23:07.505 I really feel that we need to trust children more. 00:23:08.564 --> 00:23:10.014 I guess these days. 00:23:10.595 --> 00:23:12.685 It might be hard in classroom settings. 00:23:12.685 --> 00:23:14.945 You've got to prove learning, don't you? 00:23:14.955 --> 00:23:19.435 You've got to report on it and document it and parents want to see 00:23:19.435 --> 00:23:20.875 what their children are learning. 00:23:20.944 --> 00:23:25.444 I think the only real people who know what learning is going 00:23:25.444 --> 00:23:26.865 on sometimes are the children. 00:23:27.695 --> 00:23:29.404 They're the curriculum. 00:23:29.594 --> 00:23:30.834 Anyway, that's another topic. 00:23:30.994 --> 00:23:34.424 I get easily distracted because I just feel very passionate about this. 00:23:34.514 --> 00:23:35.404 Sorry, what did you say again? 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:39.590 Ideas where educators, how could they actually bring loose 00:23:39.590 --> 00:23:41.610 parts into their settings? 00:23:42.355 --> 00:23:44.535 You know, and a lot of the times it's always, there's 00:23:44.535 --> 00:23:45.725 always that big word, right? 00:23:45.775 --> 00:23:50.325 We haven't got the budget, but really Loose Parts doesn't need a budget, right? 00:23:50.335 --> 00:23:50.934 Does it? 00:23:51.235 --> 00:23:57.125 My collection of Loose Parts has pretty much been donated, um, given to me or 00:23:57.144 --> 00:24:01.695 picked up from the side of the road or the tip shop for a very minimal price. 00:24:01.745 --> 00:24:05.375 Um, Loose Parts are great to, uh, reinforce sustainable. 00:24:05.845 --> 00:24:06.485 Practices. 00:24:06.495 --> 00:24:10.195 So kids can see how things can be used for a different purpose. 00:24:10.675 --> 00:24:12.195 You're more resourceful. 00:24:12.215 --> 00:24:13.564 You don't need a lot of money. 00:24:13.564 --> 00:24:16.445 Kids don't need all the fancy stuff, really. 00:24:16.495 --> 00:24:18.774 And what's that, what's that saying about you get them the 00:24:18.774 --> 00:24:19.894 toy, they just want the box? 00:24:20.634 --> 00:24:21.034 Like. 00:24:21.944 --> 00:24:23.565 That's why my logo is a box. 00:24:23.565 --> 00:24:24.209 And it's just 00:24:24.209 --> 00:24:27.965 about having a little bit of just imagination, isn't it? 00:24:28.064 --> 00:24:31.445 The same way as we're getting our kids to be curious and 00:24:31.564 --> 00:24:33.184 creative and have an imagination. 00:24:33.184 --> 00:24:39.224 I think as, as the adults, we need to find our creativity and our imagination 00:24:39.224 --> 00:24:43.454 and start thinking about not, Oh, I can't do this, but how can I do this? 00:24:43.454 --> 00:24:44.714 Watch the kids, you'll learn. 00:24:45.134 --> 00:24:45.544 And I think. 00:24:45.544 --> 00:24:45.614 Thank you. 00:24:46.370 --> 00:24:47.580 Um, yeah, exactly. 00:24:47.870 --> 00:24:51.120 So when you don't think, oh, I haven't got the budget, it's rather like, 00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:52.966 how, how can I get hold of this stuff? 00:24:52.966 --> 00:24:55.150 You know, and my big thing is just, 00:24:55.890 --> 00:25:00.310 it's just the parents as well involve the community. 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:04.619 Um, you know, we're looking for this or what, what, what's, can you bring 00:25:04.629 --> 00:25:09.140 or, you know, grandparents can come and help build something like it. 00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:11.340 It's a whole community effort, I find. 00:25:11.889 --> 00:25:12.110 Yeah. 00:25:12.110 --> 00:25:12.360 You don't. 00:25:13.145 --> 00:25:14.715 Need fancy things. 00:25:14.745 --> 00:25:21.534 And I think having the kids involved in the process of creating their environment 00:25:22.025 --> 00:25:23.485 is, yeah, like we said, so important. 00:25:23.485 --> 00:25:28.414 So get them to bring things from home, get them to put things in the classroom. 00:25:28.414 --> 00:25:29.744 They'll feel so empowered. 00:25:29.745 --> 00:25:31.545 Like we helped build this space. 00:25:31.805 --> 00:25:32.934 Isn't that what we want? 00:25:33.764 --> 00:25:36.054 It's to feel validated. 00:25:36.810 --> 00:25:37.370 And that, and 00:25:37.370 --> 00:25:40.379 that's how you, you build a community as well, right? 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:43.110 You build a community and that's the agency, as you said, 00:25:43.110 --> 00:25:44.419 they feel part of it then. 00:25:45.350 --> 00:25:50.650 As a teacher and as a mom, and now with your business, you must have seen 00:25:50.650 --> 00:25:55.389 some incredible transformations in children when it's come to loose parts. 00:25:55.800 --> 00:25:59.600 Could you sort of share a specific success story that stands out to 00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:04.770 you where you really witnessed a child, their remarkable development. 00:26:04.995 --> 00:26:09.145 or a breakthrough moment that you attributed to loose parts 00:26:09.375 --> 00:26:10.995 in their learning journey? 00:26:11.505 --> 00:26:18.115 Well, it's hard not to look past my own little guy, um, Milo, who's five. 00:26:19.375 --> 00:26:23.635 I think part of my journey as an educator has come to be. 00:26:23.955 --> 00:26:29.385 Because of him, when I was teaching, you sort of get the kids already 00:26:29.385 --> 00:26:34.455 at four, five, maybe three, they've done so much learning before that 00:26:34.455 --> 00:26:36.804 point, so much critical learning. 00:26:37.104 --> 00:26:44.354 So seeing it right from the beginning as a newborn, a real amazing experience to 00:26:44.424 --> 00:26:47.665 witness and be part of their learning. 00:26:47.694 --> 00:26:47.944 So. 00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:52.550 Yeah, um, Milo is a very curious little guy. 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:56.760 We like to provide a stimulating environment for him, real 00:26:56.760 --> 00:26:59.660 life, real world experiences. 00:27:00.604 --> 00:27:06.524 And I can't think of a better example than renovating our home, which we have been 00:27:06.524 --> 00:27:09.495 doing for the last two and a half years. 00:27:09.715 --> 00:27:15.705 So our environment is literally a lot of loose parts, many variables in one place. 00:27:16.014 --> 00:27:17.394 And he has grown up. 00:27:19.125 --> 00:27:20.485 Playing with many loose parts. 00:27:20.515 --> 00:27:21.905 Um, And real 00:27:21.915 --> 00:27:22.865 loose parts, we might add. 00:27:22.865 --> 00:27:26.425 Real hammers, real saws, real nails. 00:27:26.495 --> 00:27:27.575 He's still okay, right? 00:27:28.725 --> 00:27:29.465 Oh yeah. 00:27:30.084 --> 00:27:31.174 He's learning. 00:27:31.334 --> 00:27:35.355 He's learned through all those experiences and he's been immersed in it. 00:27:35.995 --> 00:27:43.655 And just the days spent, you know, playing with all the parts while we've been off 00:27:43.685 --> 00:27:46.995 building, he's really developed that. 00:27:47.625 --> 00:27:54.504 Uh, self initiated mindset of, there's stuff there, I want to explore it. 00:27:54.895 --> 00:27:59.915 This could be a tower, it could be a house, let's go and bring 00:27:59.915 --> 00:28:01.514 something from over there to this. 00:28:01.554 --> 00:28:05.175 He used to love rubbish trucks and bins. 00:28:05.214 --> 00:28:09.865 He went through the big bays of bins, so everything was a bin. 00:28:10.615 --> 00:28:14.250 So he would line them all up and like tip them. 00:28:14.470 --> 00:28:16.810 So they wouldn't, they weren't always boxes. 00:28:16.820 --> 00:28:21.200 They were like cups or we'd go to Bunnings and he'd get all the pipes 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:25.180 in the pipe aisle when we were going to get things for plumbing and he 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:29.559 would line all the pipes up, um, and drains and play bin day with that. 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:31.269 So there's a loose part mindset there. 00:28:31.710 --> 00:28:38.465 Learning through Learning so much about, uh, us as parents through him exploring 00:28:38.465 --> 00:28:43.205 the world and the loose parts and the environment has been a big learning 00:28:43.205 --> 00:28:45.975 curve for both myself and husband, Ruben. 00:28:46.154 --> 00:28:52.124 Definitely fostering his imagination as well through loose parts. 00:28:52.124 --> 00:28:54.895 I mean, it kind of gives you an excuse to just leave stuff 00:28:54.895 --> 00:28:56.225 out, to be honest, doesn't it? 00:28:56.955 --> 00:28:57.585 Be messy. 00:28:57.595 --> 00:29:03.174 Like our backyard is still a lot of remnants from building, um, scrap wood. 00:29:03.945 --> 00:29:08.285 Um, him and Ruben built a playground with some off cut jarrah 00:29:08.325 --> 00:29:10.225 with Milo's help designing it. 00:29:10.235 --> 00:29:14.684 So he was part of that, um, design process, you know, we've got some old 00:29:14.715 --> 00:29:16.755 tires out there that we found in the sump. 00:29:17.345 --> 00:29:22.264 It's just an ongoing play space for him to build upon, like a big loose 00:29:22.274 --> 00:29:24.685 part, all the loose parts together. 00:29:24.895 --> 00:29:33.355 And daily, that is an inspiration to us as how, You can view the world and create 00:29:33.355 --> 00:29:36.265 your own world and have that mindset. 00:29:36.355 --> 00:29:38.795 Can't think of a better example than my own children, but 00:29:38.805 --> 00:29:40.315 you see it with all children. 00:29:40.315 --> 00:29:43.455 I see it in that five or 10 minute block. 00:29:43.485 --> 00:29:48.284 They come to a play session and interact with the loose parts. 00:29:48.325 --> 00:29:52.745 They just have that spark there that I want to explore this. 00:29:53.015 --> 00:29:54.755 I want to see what I can do with this. 00:29:54.985 --> 00:29:57.415 It's really inspiring. 00:29:57.855 --> 00:29:59.385 And I love seeing that. 00:30:00.110 --> 00:30:01.460 And just go on with it. 00:30:02.290 --> 00:30:09.049 And Ash, you, um, love your time so much with Milo that, um, you know, you started 00:30:09.050 --> 00:30:15.649 the business Playmore in Geraldton, and that's become your full time really 00:30:15.650 --> 00:30:18.190 occupation now, but so much so that. 00:30:18.470 --> 00:30:19.700 You now homeschool Milo. 00:30:20.350 --> 00:30:22.220 So how's that all going? 00:30:22.270 --> 00:30:26.320 And I think for any of the listeners out there, I think so many people 00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:27.670 would say, that's all great. 00:30:27.990 --> 00:30:30.229 No, we're letting kids play, but what are they actually learning? 00:30:30.230 --> 00:30:33.730 Well, we know what they're learning, but on the academic side, if you 00:30:33.730 --> 00:30:38.645 know, for those who are thinking about reading and writing and math, How 00:30:38.645 --> 00:30:43.855 do you, in your homeschool setting, integrate all that kind of stuff into 00:30:43.875 --> 00:30:46.865 Milo's curiosity and his exploration? 00:30:46.875 --> 00:30:49.725 Because it's not an and or situation, is it? 00:30:49.745 --> 00:30:54.075 You, it's, It dovetails and how did you manage that? 00:30:54.195 --> 00:30:58.935 Yeah, the decision to homeschool was difficult at the time because 00:30:59.165 --> 00:31:05.224 he was, uh, at school, the school I was working at, but it just became 00:31:05.225 --> 00:31:10.955 apparent that there was a misalignment in values and I really, truly wanted 00:31:10.995 --> 00:31:17.165 to keep learning alongside him and in a way it became an easy decision. 00:31:17.215 --> 00:31:18.135 Um, and. 00:31:18.135 --> 00:31:18.264 Okay. 00:31:18.725 --> 00:31:24.525 It's just the time together is so much more potent. 00:31:25.005 --> 00:31:27.015 We can choose how we spend our days. 00:31:27.015 --> 00:31:30.075 It's just like learning through life experiences. 00:31:30.094 --> 00:31:34.445 And like you said, learning is integrated and we, he's the curriculum. 00:31:34.515 --> 00:31:40.395 We don't subscribe to a curriculum or get out the curriculum and tick the boxes. 00:31:40.395 --> 00:31:45.335 We observe and help create the space based on what. 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:48.970 He's interested in or step back. 00:31:48.970 --> 00:31:51.450 And again, like I said before about stepping back, observing 00:31:51.450 --> 00:31:52.880 and then adjusting accordingly. 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:57.039 So right now he is right into aviation. 00:31:57.040 --> 00:32:00.260 He has been for probably about a year since we got back from Japan. 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:02.870 Airplanes, airports, and that has just. 00:32:03.475 --> 00:32:07.925 Been evolving throughout the year and built upon, and you can really, 00:32:07.965 --> 00:32:11.665 I guess you can nitpick all the curriculum areas into that, out of that. 00:32:11.665 --> 00:32:13.505 Cause that is a very broad topic. 00:32:13.505 --> 00:32:17.825 So, I mean, like there's the math involved in the altitudes and the 00:32:17.845 --> 00:32:20.585 airspeed, uh, wind directions. 00:32:20.594 --> 00:32:22.804 He loves watching, um. 00:32:23.415 --> 00:32:28.195 Air Crash Investigations, that TV show, a documentary, and he, he watches it 00:32:28.205 --> 00:32:32.644 and he studies it and he brings that into his play when he, like, he spends 00:32:32.644 --> 00:32:34.755 a lot of his day playing with airplanes. 00:32:34.755 --> 00:32:39.420 Like, I'm sitting at the kitchen desk now, table, which has Which was an 00:32:39.430 --> 00:32:44.600 airport, which I had to ask if I could borrow for putting my computer on. 00:32:44.600 --> 00:32:47.990 But yeah, I've got like airplanes all around me. 00:32:48.010 --> 00:32:52.260 Um, anyway, so yes, airports and building on that. 00:32:52.430 --> 00:32:58.029 So yeah, I mean, and the physics through the, the lift stall spin, 00:32:59.040 --> 00:33:01.480 ailerons, all this jargon with the air. 00:33:02.060 --> 00:33:03.950 Language of airplanes. 00:33:03.950 --> 00:33:07.820 And, you know, you're covering meteorology with, um, wind speeds and 00:33:07.820 --> 00:33:09.690 direction, the weather conditions. 00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:12.520 He's right into checking my phone every day for the weather. 00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:13.889 What's the temperature today? 00:33:13.889 --> 00:33:15.260 The maximum, the minimum. 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:17.160 Today's going to be really hot. 00:33:17.169 --> 00:33:18.499 So I need to put sunscreen on. 00:33:18.499 --> 00:33:19.169 I need a hat. 00:33:19.169 --> 00:33:22.230 So all those rich conversations around daily life. 00:33:22.840 --> 00:33:26.630 Um, yes, reading and writing and math is the big one, right? 00:33:26.800 --> 00:33:29.400 He loves math naturally that has. 00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:37.210 Um, he's been a bit quiet lately because it's off season, but 00:33:37.210 --> 00:33:38.434 he's getting right into that. 00:33:38.434 --> 00:33:44.169 So he would play football every day, being both teams and, you know, adding 00:33:44.170 --> 00:33:47.619 up the score for both teams, working out the difference he's base level 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:49.469 is pretty much six counting in sixes. 00:33:49.469 --> 00:33:51.499 So there's your times table. 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.070 Um, Yeah. 00:33:52.070 --> 00:33:52.097 Yeah. 00:33:52.097 --> 00:33:52.124 Yeah. 00:33:52.615 --> 00:33:57.105 Yeah, and reading comes up naturally through the everyday, like, if he 00:33:57.105 --> 00:34:01.445 wants, like, not only the vocabulary through what he's hearing around him and 00:34:01.455 --> 00:34:05.435 bringing it into his play, but, you know, we write the shopping list together. 00:34:06.054 --> 00:34:11.104 Um, if he wants to find something to watch, we sound it out in the 00:34:11.114 --> 00:34:13.355 little box on the YouTube search. 00:34:13.365 --> 00:34:15.465 So that naturally occurring. 00:34:16.035 --> 00:34:19.955 Reading and writing, we read obviously every night and point 00:34:19.955 --> 00:34:23.815 and sound out words, but it's not for, it's not imposed upon him. 00:34:23.815 --> 00:34:25.615 It is naturally occurring. 00:34:25.615 --> 00:34:30.305 And I think that is best for him to learn in real world. 00:34:30.874 --> 00:34:33.664 That's more natural, which makes sense. 00:34:33.675 --> 00:34:35.185 It really just makes sense. 00:34:36.025 --> 00:34:42.145 The longer I'm out of the system, the more this approach just seems. 00:34:42.705 --> 00:34:44.515 like it should be for everyone. 00:34:45.485 --> 00:34:45.975 You know, 00:34:46.205 --> 00:34:50.645 it's, it's always, I always think back to my own childhood. 00:34:51.475 --> 00:34:55.424 You know, I was raised, um, born and raised and schooled in South Africa. 00:34:55.855 --> 00:34:58.815 I don't know whether it's changed, might've changed by now, but certainly. 00:34:59.250 --> 00:35:03.550 I went to school, my first year of formal schooling was when I was six 00:35:03.550 --> 00:35:05.610 and I turned seven in that August. 00:35:05.670 --> 00:35:10.199 So this whole rush of getting kids to school when they're three, four and five, 00:35:10.430 --> 00:35:14.870 I just don't get it, you know, and I mean, I don't think that disadvantaged me. 00:35:14.929 --> 00:35:19.090 I don't think that I'm behind anybody else who perhaps went 00:35:19.090 --> 00:35:20.490 to school when they were three. 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.910 You know, you wouldn't 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.820 know now, would you? 00:35:23.160 --> 00:35:23.880 Exactly. 00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.980 Like, what does it matter? 00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:28.780 You know, does it matter now that I'm at this age, whether I 00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:30.730 went to school at three or seven? 00:35:31.180 --> 00:35:35.789 And it's certainly, I think because I was that bit older, um, 00:35:35.789 --> 00:35:36.930 cause that's just how it worked. 00:35:36.930 --> 00:35:39.930 You know, you went to school the year you turned seven or the year 00:35:39.930 --> 00:35:42.715 that You went to school when you were six, whatever it happened, I think, 00:35:42.715 --> 00:35:44.695 because my birthday was after July. 00:35:45.005 --> 00:35:46.395 That's why I turned seven. 00:35:46.415 --> 00:35:49.605 This whole rush about getting kids to school and they have to start reading 00:35:49.605 --> 00:35:51.075 and learning and all the rest of it. 00:35:51.635 --> 00:35:54.355 Um, I don't see the point, actually. 00:35:54.355 --> 00:35:57.884 I think if you're older, the better, the older you are, I think the more 00:35:57.885 --> 00:36:00.005 ready you are, the better it is. 00:36:00.035 --> 00:36:01.705 There's no need for the rush. 00:36:02.325 --> 00:36:03.925 And that's just my personal opinion. 00:36:04.025 --> 00:36:05.035 Oh, I agree. 00:36:05.285 --> 00:36:06.925 My own children started school. 00:36:07.255 --> 00:36:10.600 I remember we were, um, expats internationally. 00:36:10.600 --> 00:36:14.600 And one school I visited and my child was, wasn't even four yet. 00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:17.250 And I said, well, what do you expect them to do? 00:36:17.250 --> 00:36:19.390 And it was, Oh, they have to read, write, do the name. 00:36:19.390 --> 00:36:21.650 And I just turned around and I said, thanks very much. 00:36:21.680 --> 00:36:25.489 And when they offered him a position, the best thing was when I said, no, thank you. 00:36:25.489 --> 00:36:26.899 We won't be taking that. 00:36:27.390 --> 00:36:28.709 It felt so good, you know. 00:36:30.505 --> 00:36:33.705 Uh, anyway, we digress from loose parts, Ash. 00:36:34.045 --> 00:36:36.975 Oh, it's just, everything's a loose part, right? 00:36:36.975 --> 00:36:39.055 Exactly, it's all interconnected. 00:36:39.055 --> 00:36:39.684 Absolutely. 00:36:39.684 --> 00:36:40.944 Ash, just 00:36:40.944 --> 00:36:46.525 to close off, let's tell everybody a little bit about your business, Playmore. 00:36:46.995 --> 00:36:50.765 And for those who are lucky enough to live in Geraldton, 00:36:51.225 --> 00:36:53.915 how they can get hold of you. 00:36:53.955 --> 00:36:56.535 How can they join in with your play sessions? 00:36:56.964 --> 00:36:59.834 Just tell everybody how they can find you and connect with 00:36:59.834 --> 00:37:00.895 you and come and play with 00:37:00.895 --> 00:37:01.155 you. 00:37:01.984 --> 00:37:02.784 Oh, thank you. 00:37:02.825 --> 00:37:05.105 Um, well, Playmore is evolving. 00:37:05.635 --> 00:37:11.485 It started sort of last year where I still, I'd finished at school, 00:37:11.505 --> 00:37:15.465 but I still wanted to work with families and children, especially, 00:37:15.485 --> 00:37:17.475 and promote learning through play. 00:37:17.485 --> 00:37:23.484 So it, I started doing some, um, messy play sessions, uh, 00:37:23.495 --> 00:37:25.274 in town that were sort of. 00:37:25.625 --> 00:37:30.395 open for everybody to come to and that was quite well received because a lot of 00:37:30.415 --> 00:37:35.385 people don't like to get messy or clean up and I don't mind either of those things. 00:37:35.385 --> 00:37:39.214 So, um, but yeah, the kids really. 00:37:39.700 --> 00:37:40.690 Loved it as well. 00:37:40.690 --> 00:37:43.010 And the parents, I think, see the value in, in that. 00:37:43.010 --> 00:37:49.229 So I sort of just built upon that, um, also gathering loose parts and doing a 00:37:49.229 --> 00:37:53.750 few play sessions here and there, but I think it's growing and evolving in that 00:37:53.750 --> 00:37:56.679 we, it's not just me running the business. 00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:59.970 I, um, my husband, Ruben is helping as well. 00:37:59.970 --> 00:38:02.660 We're working together and it's, we want to. 00:38:02.775 --> 00:38:07.355 Create a community, I guess, of like minded people who believe 00:38:07.365 --> 00:38:08.965 in learning through play. 00:38:08.995 --> 00:38:14.424 And right now at the moment that I guess is play sessions, but we are hoping 00:38:14.424 --> 00:38:15.875 to create something bigger than that. 00:38:15.935 --> 00:38:16.455 And. 00:38:17.150 --> 00:38:17.450 Yeah. 00:38:17.450 --> 00:38:21.760 So I guess stay tuned because right now we don't know what it 00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:25.949 looks like, but it's in process of becoming something bigger, I think. 00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:31.550 Um, but yeah, for now, I guess you can, um, follow Playmore on Facebook, 00:38:31.780 --> 00:38:37.890 which is just Playmore, the word, uh, colorful box as the picture, um, and, um, 00:38:37.910 --> 00:38:40.520 Instagram or on Instagram as at playmore. 00:38:42.010 --> 00:38:42.020 au. 00:38:42.410 --> 00:38:47.050 Um, we've got a website, but that is still being developed. 00:38:47.100 --> 00:38:52.120 Um, so there isn't a whole lot on it right now, but that is just playmore. 00:38:52.360 --> 00:38:52.370 au. 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:55.010 You can contact me through those. 00:38:56.715 --> 00:39:00.605 Well, Ash, we will put all your contact details in the show notes 00:39:00.615 --> 00:39:01.905 for anyone who's interested. 00:39:02.605 --> 00:39:07.085 So I think for today, Ash, thanks for sharing the amazing benefits 00:39:07.085 --> 00:39:08.874 of play and loose parts with us. 00:39:09.425 --> 00:39:14.254 And I really hope that everything goes well for you and your business. 00:39:14.695 --> 00:39:16.304 And I look forward to. 00:39:16.665 --> 00:39:21.705 connecting with you again and seeing your growth as I watch you on social media. 00:39:22.325 --> 00:39:25.204 And I'd just like to thank everybody for listening today. 00:39:25.665 --> 00:39:28.375 As I said, Ash's details will be in the show notes, so 00:39:28.375 --> 00:39:29.585 make sure you check that out. 00:39:30.015 --> 00:39:33.584 And if you like the show, please consider sharing it with others, 00:39:33.594 --> 00:39:35.425 following and leaving a review. 00:39:35.485 --> 00:39:39.475 And that way more people find us because that's just the way the algorithm works. 00:39:39.995 --> 00:39:40.885 So thanks so much. 00:39:40.885 --> 00:39:46.525 And as always, I like to end off by just saying, just stay blooming curious.