Children can now really let off steam at the municipal kindergarten in Grünberg-Reinhardshain. Stadtwerke Gießen has donated six great vehicles as part of its "Play your game" campaign.
"Make way. Here I come" - this or something similar could soon be heard more often across the pavement in the courtyard of the Sternschnuppe daycare centre. Because from now on, four brand new bobby cars and two smart tractors will be rolling around there - powered by children's legs. The daycare centre got the popular vehicles thanks to the "Play your game" campaign, with which Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) supports exercise programmes for children and young people. Rüdiger Hefter brought the project to the attention of SWG. In his role as head of the neighbourhood, he knew that the available play vehicles were in short supply and were also getting on in years. "When I heard about 'Spiel' Dein Spiel', I spontaneously had the idea of applying for the kindergarten and thus increasing the vehicle pool," he recalls.
A short time later, Rüdiger Hefter was accepted. "The enquiry for the Sternschnuppe daycare centre fits perfectly into our concept," explains Stephanie Orlik, who is responsible for this project at SWG. With the "Play your game" campaign, SWG is pursuing the overarching goal of motivating children and young people to get more exercise. The regional energy supplier is helping clubs and institutions to organise appropriate activities.
Giving in to the natural urge
This is exactly what the girls and boys at the Sternschnuppe daycare centre are now benefiting from. They are using the new bobby cars and tractors with great enthusiasm. Jutta Peppler, head of the Sternschnuppe daycare centre, knows why: "Children have a natural urge to move. We want to fulfil this instead of preventing it." Consequently, the vehicles are in use as often as possible. And not just in good weather. In the neighbouring village community centre, which is occasionally used as an exercise room, there is enough space for the Bobby-Cars to do a few laps.
The sturdy plastic racers offer another advantage that should not be underestimated in the classic kindergarten routine: of course, the older three to six-year-olds in particular race around on them. However, they can also be easily integrated into children's typical role play - for example as a police car or as an important helper on the farm. In this kind of environment, children can move around playfully, completely without the aspect of sporting performance. And if it's not about winning, it increases the likelihood that even the less ambitious children will enjoy exercise for longer.
"We are very grateful for the donation. The Bobby-Cars and the two tractors enrich our free play programme enormously," adds Jutta Peppler. Especially as the vehicles train other skills, such as consideration for others and patience. Because there are usually more potential drivers than vehicles, it is important to wait and take turns.