Sourcing materials for children’s play

Sourcing materials for children’s play

Sourcing free materials for children’s play, or scrounging as it’s also known, is a must for everyone supporting children’s play. Anyone who works with children will know that they benefit from having lots of stuff to play with. Having resources and materials available to play with greatly increases the possibilities within any place where children are playing and why pay for them, when with imagination, they may be available for free.

This information sheet explores the types of things we could consider sourcing or scrounging, tips about how to go about it to increase our chances of success, who may be able to help, as well as stories and tips form expert scroungers from across Wales.

What is scrounging?

The Oxford English dictionary (online) defines the word ‘scrounge’ as: ‘Seek to obtain (something, typically food or money) at the expense or through the generosity of others or by stealth.’

In playwork terms the process of scrounging is sometimes also affectionately referred to as ‘wombling’.

‘The Wombles are fictional pointy-nosed, furry creatures …originally appearing in a series of children’s novels. They live in burrows, where they aim to help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in creative ways… The Womble motto is “Make Good Use of Bad Rubbish”’.

Wikipedia That’s exactly what we try to do – make good use of other people’s rubbish, by re-using it as play resources. Other terms associated with scrounging are skip dipping or diving, blagging or resourcing.

In essence, they all mean the same thing – gathering free resources to support children’s play.

Effective scrounging Scrounging doesn’t mean stealing, and we should always gain consent from the owner of any resources we take. Most people will be happy to donate what they don’t want, particularly if we make them aware it’s for children’s benefit.

To be an effective scrounger we need to be resourceful and use our imagination. We need initiative, creativity, and knowledge of what might constitute a hazard to health or safety and we shouldn’t be slow in coming forwards and asking for a favour.

It helps to plan – have an idea of what will be useful for play, or what is needed for a particular event or project, so that we can identify materials or items worth making an effort to gather.

Scrounging requires initiative – find out where resources can be found – which people, organisations, businesses, homes, or shops have resources that we might want or that is worth having.

Think about the best way to approach a source for instance, which ones we chat to face-to-face, or who we write to formally, or phone or email.

When we are offered resources we need to look for potential hazards – to make decisions about whether the resources are safe for children’s play.

We should consider the potential risks attached to all scrounged materials and if there’s any doubt we shouldn’t accept it.

Scrounging methods

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It’s important to decide on the method that suits each place where we’re scrounging, for example:

We remember the name of the person we approach and use it.

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We explain clearly why we want the materials.

We explain how a donation will benefit the children in ways that will be important to our source.

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We keep our sources happy. We show our gratitude and keep our organisation in their minds. We send thank you letters, and feature them in our newsletters or social media updates and make sure they know how we are getting on by including them on information mailing lists.

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We keep a record of sources and contacts that have been made so that they can be used again, and so that we don’t return to a source too soon or appear to be nagging.

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We never let sources down by not turning up to make a collection.

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If we borrow resources we make sure they are returned in good condition and on time.

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Visit the source – meeting face-to-face

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Individual letter to a specific source or a circular letter to a number of sources

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Phone calls or emails

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Swaps with other organisations

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Borrowing.

Golden rules of scrounging •

If we’re making a visit we think about our communication style and how we present ourselves. We want these people to help us, so we need to make a positive impression. If we’re writing a letter or email, we keep it short, polite and to the point.

We shouldn’t be embarrassed – scrounging is an important playwork skill and often we are doing our sources a favour or making them feel good by helping us.

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We will win some and lose some – it’s important that we aren’t ‘put off’ if we are turned down or ignored sometimes.

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The best place to look for loose parts is industrial estates where there is always lots of waste from builders.

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Always introduce yourself and explain what you are doing before asking or taking things, a big smile goes a long way!

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Often companies will offer you a pile of things, some of it will be useful and some won’t be.

However, it is better to take it all and throw away the other stuff as this is also helpful to the company.

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Always thank the company and, if you want to use them regularly it is great to show them some photos of the kids using the resources or give them a thank you card made by the children next time you go to ask.

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Ask relatives or friends as they may throw things away in work that you could use.

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If a company asks you to come back in a few days or says they will put some things together for you it is important you collect them as they may go to some lengths to help you.’

If we’re turning up somewhere asking for a donation it’s probably helpful not to be in our best clothes and driving an expensive looking car!

The Conwy Play Development Team offers playworkers additional advice when sourcing resources in their own Top Tips for Scrounging: ‘When sourcing loose parts it is helpful to think about the following: •

Try and get a large car or van (this isn’t essential but it helps!) put an old sheet over your boot if using your car – it can get messy!

Advocating for scrounging Why should anyone give us their surplus and waste materials? In short, it supports children’s play and it’s good for our environment.

The 3 x R’s are a useful tool for considering better waste management – Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.

All schools in Wales have a School Council and most also have Eco-Councils too. The EcoCouncils use the 3 x R’s as a guide for their activities and there are examples of both of these groups gathering resources for playing at playtimes.

For example, Playful Futures’ Playful Playtimes Project encourages school children via their councils to consider asking other children, staff and parents to donate resources with play value.

To make a polite request for resources or specific items to support their play consider ideas such as putting posters in staff rooms, requests via social media or sending letters home to parents.

What can we scrounge?

Loose parts Loose parts is the description given to any natural and man-made resources that can be manipulated, moved and adapted, built and demolished by children at play. When used as a loose part anything can be used and not necessarily for the purpose it was originally designed.

Anything used as a loose part can offer limitless play possibilities. For example a stick may become a fishing rod near real or imaginary water, or a spoon in a mud kitchen, or a tool to nudge a football that’s stuck in a tree; it can be thrown, floated, snapped, pinged, bent, hidden, added to a pile, tied to something else, split, catapulted or used to make a fire. Loose parts create richer play environments for children to play by giving them endless flexible resources to extend their play.

A rich play environment is one where children are able to make a wide range of choices, where there are many possibilities so that they can invent and extend their own play.

This could be any space or setting, either outdoors or indoors. Quality play provision offers all children the opportunity to freely interact with or experience, amongst other things, loose parts.

There is a theory of loose parts. It states that: ‘In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity, and the possibility of discovery, are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it.’ 1 For more information about loose parts read our Resources for playing – providing loose parts to support children’s play toolkit: www.playwales.org.uk/eng/publications/ loosepartstoolkit Ultimately, having lots of varied loose parts improves any play setting. This is particularly important if the place where children are playing is bland and sterile with few interesting environmental features. Some play provision is situated in the only suitable local places available for community use, such as community centres, school playgrounds or playing fields that may be little more than green deserts.

Providing loose parts can greatly increase the play value on offer for children and support the creation of richer play spaces. Scrounging resources for free helps to keep costs to a minimum and the play space more interesting and varied.

‘Loose parts work best when there is a real mix of things, including some very random pieces, here is a list of possibilities: tyres, pallets, carpet tubes, large heavy tubes, material, tarpaulin, cardboard boxes, fancy dress, paint, stickers, vinyl, a boat, ropes, dolls house, mannequins, windows and doors, furniture, nets, pipes, elastic, wool, shells, stones, wooden planks, carpet reels, tents, milk crates, wheelie bin wheels, old toys, bubble wrap.

This is not an exhaustive list, loose parts can be whatever your imagination and scrounging ability allows.’

Top Tips for Scrounging, Conwy Play Development Team Land and storage space We can also scrounge other resources apart from loose parts for children to play. Examples include play projects securing storage space such as shipping containers to store their loose parts

and landowners donating the use of land for play purposes. Their potential liability needs to be considered carefully, but with a professional and considered approach it can be done. ‘Peppercorn rents’ are often used as a way to pass land on to voluntary or third sector groups for community use.

Food According to a wide-ranging United Nations assessment of child health and wellbeing2, the UK has some of the highest levels of hunger and deprivation among the world’s richest nations.

Nearly one in five UK children under the age of 15 suffers from food insecurity – meaning their family lacks secure access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. If children are hungry it impacts significantly on their ability to play. In the UK, a number of play providers provide food for children, for example in some settings local volunteers prepare food on site or work in partnership with other organisations that bring food to the play setting.

If we are struggling for sources to provide food for children at our play setting we may consider

approaching local businesses to ask if they will donate food. Charitable organisations and businesses are already providing food to some play projects and adventure playgrounds in Wales and the rest of the UK.

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Chemical concerns – for example batteries and leaky components

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Electrical concerns – for example wires, circuits and plugs

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Sharp items

For further information read our Play, playwork and food information sheet: www.playwales.org.uk/eng/publications/ informationsheets

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Likelihood of splintering or shattering, especially under pressure or temperature changes

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Flammability of materials

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Bacterial infection through damp, wet storage or stagnant water.

Checking resources The resources we gather need to be safe enough for children to use. We should set up a system of checking any new items, regardless of where or how they were sourced. We don’t assume that because something was deemed to be safe when used as industrial packaging, for example, that it will be safe for a young child to play with.

Common sense is our best guide but consider potential risks such as: •

Entrapment of fingers and head

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Loose bits which may come off or cause choking hazards

‘The Land’, an adventure playground in Wrexham is a model of good practice. The Deputy Play Manager, David Bullough shares his experiences as a scrounger: ‘Ask all of your friends and family – most can get hold of free stuff. They all move house and have clear outs eventually too. I’ve had scrubs off my doctor sister, recliner seats off my nan, logs from my farmer friend, football kits, clothes, cakes, footballs, dolls houses, cardboard boxes, plants, printers, benches, bikes, carpet. Don’t underestimate the contacts you already have.

Parents of the children too, these people are also a great source.

‘Claire (the playground manager) once told me we were going to pick up a lily pad. I had no idea what she meant until we had an entire wetland

Think about the actions needed to manage these risks, for example: •

Sand down sharp edges or splintery wood

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Remove protruding wires, staples or nails

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Check pockets and lining of second-hand clothing and accessories

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Wash and clean resources.

Creating a simple checklist with everyone we work with, so that they know what checks to make and measures to put in place is a good starting point.

ecosystem in a tonne bag that had to go on my knee in the front of the van because there wasn’t enough room in the back.

‘It’s good to have some blind optimism. We’ve had three pianos at The Land, and every time I’ve said,“This is impossible, not a chance are we getting this on the van then off the van and onto The Land”. Claire’s reply was always “It’ll be fine”. Every time we’ve managed to do it and the children have had a piano to play on!

‘Freecycle is a goldmine for the weird and wonderful and you meet lots of different people.

If you get your name out there far and wide, eventually you won’t really have to scrounge anymore, stuff will come to you. A man turned up at The Land once and just said “Do you want a speedboat?” That was our second speed boat!’

Support for scrounging There are a number of organisations that may be able to offer support for gathering resources such as toy libraries or scrapstores.

Scrapstores are a creative cash and carry for schools, nurseries, local community groups and individuals to stock up on items for creative play at affordable priced. With scrapstores across the UK there are thousands of businesses already donating a range of rescued resources.

The variety of items are ideal for encouraging imaginative play, creativity and problem solving.

Reuseful UK has been set up by members of the scrapstore community to support the reuse of unwanted resources for the benefit of children and communities. Clean reusable scrap materials (which businesses find hard to recycle so would

otherwise be sent to landfill) are made available for children to play with through a network of independent scrapstores across the UK. To find your local scrapstore visit: www.scrapstoresuk.org Toy libraries provide resources for play. They give members the opportunity for shared play or the loan of toys. Members can include: children, parents and grandparents, childcare and play providers, schools and hospital staff.

For more information about toy libraries visit: http://itla-toylibraries.org/home/join-us Websites such as Freecycle or Gumtree, and buy and sell groups on social media, also provide a free way of giving away unwanted stuff for it to be reused rather than thrown away.

Note

References

We used to talk about recycling but since the introduction of legislation to license recycling by commercial providers, re-using is a more accurate description of what we are aiming to do with the resources we can source for children’s play.

1

United Nations (2017) Building the Future: Children and the Sustainable Development Goals in Rich Countries.

Nicholson, S. (1971) The Theory of Loose Parts, Landscape Architecture, 62, 30-35.

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December 2018 © Play Wales

Author: Simon Bazley

Simon is the man behind Playful Futures. He is a play consultant and playwork trainer.

www.playwales.org.uk

Play Wales is the national organisation for children’s play, an independent charity supported by the Welsh Government to uphold children’s right to play and to provide advice and guidance on play-related matters.

Registered charity, no. 1068926 A company limited by guarantee, no 3507258 Registered in Wales