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Exploring MTA’s range of resources to facilitate play and foster creativity
Freya Lucas
Apr 26, 2022
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Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity through carefully planned and curated learning experiences designed with care by experienced educators.
The team at MTA understands the importance of explorative play in early childhood, and of providing children with resources and opportunities that foster independence and autonomy while also giving inquisitive minds a chance to explore and engage with the world around them.Suitable for the youngest learner to the time that children leave for school, the range of products highlighted below will help educators and approved providers to create spaces where children’s curiosity can thrive.
Firstly this set of three Wooden Discovery Boxes allows children to showcase and protect what’s special and important to them, while also allowing educators an opportunity to sort and display items to provoke children’s learning and curiosity.
Ideal for collecting and showcasing natural resources, the boxes are made from beechwood and come with clear plastic lids which slide open. They are divided into sections of three, six and eight, and are suitable for use by children three years and older. Continuing the sorting theme, the Sort and Design Blocks – 193 pieces - nestle neatly inside a wooden tray, and are ideal in supporting children to sort and categorise, as well as being useful for building and constructing opportunities and perfect for exploring fundamental elements of pattern and design.
This set of four Wood Framed Play Mirrors allows children to explore in a different way, and are suitable for use by children 12 months of age and beyond. Perfect as a backdrop for small world play, the mirrors can also be used by children to explore light, reflection, and even diversity and emotion by looking at different expressions and features. 
Children aged three years and up can also enjoy the interplay of light and shadow when they engage with the Large Wooden Light Panel. This investment piece is fast becoming a staple of many early childhood environments because of its versatility, allowing children to explore a variety of senses. 
The panel can be used as a surface for sensory play using sand and other tactile materials including water, sand, glitter and paint, or to use with transparent or opaque materials in an exploration of line, texture, shape and colour. For those children who prefer more ‘hands-on’ exploration opportunities, the 35 piece Large Wooden Blocks and Ramps set supports a variety of open ended learning experiences, as well as fostering children’s social skills when they work collaboratively on a construction project.
Access to loose parts - such as these blocks - for open ended play encourages and develops the problem solving, perseverance and creative thinking that are integral to success in STEM and STEAM based subjects.Services who appreciate a little more colour and flair may find the 28 piece Rainbow Architect Blocks Set more suitable, offering beautiful natural solid beechwood nesting shape sets in the seven colours of the rainbow, with a natural finish to show the grain of the wood. The 4 geometric shapes are squares, rectangles, triangles and arches.
The 60 piece Rainbow GeoBlocks build on the themes presented above, consisting of five different shapes, with each shape being based on an equilateral triangle, making them perfect for pattern making and open ended play. All of the timber used in these geoblox is made from environmentally friendly FSC timber making them a sustainable addition to the early learning environment.
Finally this Outdoor Mud Table and Sink adds a sense of style and sophistication to the traditionally messy world of outdoor play. Made from hardwood timber this outdoor mud table and sink set is a functional and beautiful furniture piece for your outdoor play space while also being suitable for indoor use. Each table features a curved design and the small footprint ensures it is suitable for even the smallest of outdoor spaces. One of the tables includes a removable stainless steel bowl and hand powered pump. A bucket or vessel is required to hold the water under the table.
To learn more about any of the products featured above, or for any further information, please contact MTA by phone on 1800 251 497 or email sales@teaching.com.au 
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