Deanside Village’s “Zenmobile”
Posted November 20th 2024
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When you think of a bus, the word “zen” doesn’t usually enter your head. This is not the case at Aspire Deanside Village. The centre has set up their spectacular bus playground as a relaxing and calm space, which was given the name of the “Zenmobile”.
This quiet, calming space is the perfect place for children to regulate their emotions during play. It also acts as a quiet zone where children who just want to take part in quiet play can spend time.
When the educators first saw the bus when the centre was complete, they thought “Wow, the children are going to LOVE this!”. Then their educator's knowledge and thoughts crept in “Oh no, a space like this is an educator’s nightmare!” due to the space being quite large and enclosed.
The centre team then discussed together how they could turn this into a positive and make this space a safe area. That’s when the team decided to make this a place for children to go when they felt overwhelmed. Creating a quiet, calm space where children can regulate their emotions was the perfect solution!
After that, the team came together to prepare the inside of the bus by removing possible hazards, setting up rules and creating a safety action plan. The Deanside Village team also found a range of calming resources to fit out the Zenmobile. Things such as books, puzzles, soft cushions and other relaxing activities are set up inside the bus. There are also posters with breathing techniques and other calming exercises to help children regulate their emotions.
The Zenmobile has been a fun addition to the kinder yard! The children have been very excited to explore it and have utilised the space as a calming zone. Sometimes the children just want to run through it, but they are getting great at using it as a no-running zone. The most recent update introduced a variety of large stuffed animals to help prevent children from running through the bus. This quick thinking to find solutions as problems arise is a testament to the centre’s leadership team.
The children have been using the posters on the bus to learn about calming breathing techniques. This has helped many children learn about how to regulate and take time out when they have big emotions.
Overall, the unique inclusion of Aspire Deanside Village’s Zenmobile in the kinder yard is a fantastic initiative. As a calming space for children to take time to cool down, the Zenmobile is a soft, safe place for all the kinder children.
Aspire Early Education Deanside Village currently has enrolment availabilities. Click the links below to learn more or book a tour or call 1800 978 429 to chat with the enquiries team.
