This article provides tips and recommendations for creating and maintaining effective and acceptable natural shade and built shade structures at ECE services.

Attention is drawn here to different problems such as tree branches breaking on children, vandalism, etc, and what you might do to limit such problems.

Flexibility for children's outdoor play is maximised in summer when

• there are a variety of well-designed spaces for children's play,
• sufficient natural and built shade is provided, and
• the risk of sunburn is reduced substantially.

Natural shade

Planning to provide natural shade through shrubs, trees, and vines gives an additional advantage for your early childhood programme in that you will be providing an on-site context for children to learn about nature through insects and birds. 

Natural shade provides places for children to be in small groups and for privacy when they want a bit of time out from the crowd. 

Consider the shape of the tree and the shadow cast.

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