TO some it may look like trash, but to these children a little imagine turns this trash in to a treasure trove of potential.
Loose parts play visited Fairview Primary School on Monday to allow the children to experience a play experience like no other.
Car parts, video cameras, pipes, boxes, wooden crates, keyboards, and tyres were among the items strewn out across the play area for children to let loose with creating whatever came in to their imagination.
Wellington Regional Waste Education Coordinator Margaret Macindoe runs the program and said the idea behind the concept is that the children use their imaginations to make play objects out of other stuff.
“Anything has the possibility to be joined together,” she said.
The parts can come from just about anywhere, old items you may have around the house, or more heavy duty goods that you may be thinking of disposing of.
“We collect the parts from various places and the children use their imaginations to play with it.”
“It is usually stuff that has been thrown out as well as E-waste,” Ms Macindoe said.
The project travels to schools in the Wellington region, which covers six councils, and Project Coordinator Ms Macindoe said she works closely with people from the tip to collect various items that are thrown out, as well as the occasional rummage through the bulk refuge roadside collection.
“It is anything from car parts to household items, my personal favourite is the vacuum cleaner pipes, and they are so versatile.”
“Things that weren’t originally designed to be a toy can become a play item with a little imagination,” she said.
The project gives the children the opportunity to play with goods without fear of breaking anything and travels to schools throughout the region, encouraging schools to start their own collection of items including household goods that parents may be getting rid of.
