Socialising and Communicating Outside the Box

Joy Lubawy is a local early childhood professional, a mentor in the field and the host of a wonderful facebook page and website.  She has authored a number of resource books that have supported so many in the early childhood sector.  Many of you will have been to see Joy speak, or even had Joy into your service to provide insightful information and begin the dialogues that lift early childhood educators professionally and emotionally.  www.jnpconsulting.com.au
Joy recently shared the article below by Nancy Rosenow in which a child has a chance to explore and construct in a nature-based outdoor environment. 
Once you have read the article, I would be most intrigued to start the discussion around enabling children to explore and engage in their natural preschool environment. 

- What has worked in your service to enable children that may otherwise find communication or socialising a challenge? 

I have some iTunes vouchers up for grabs for anyone starting discussions in the comment sections!
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In her article, "Children Are 'Speaking' to Us through Their Construction Work: Are We 'Listening?" in our Beginnings Professional Development Workshop unit 'Construction,' Nancy Rosenow shares this story about the importance of learning to 'listen' through observing children's construction:

"[Sally] told of taking her young son ‘Chad’ (who has been diagnosed with autism and verbal-language delays), and his two typically developing siblings, to a nature-based public outdoor space.  There, Chad discovered a large construction area where children could build with tree branches, tree cookies, and other natural items.  Chad quickly became engaged in constructing a large rectangular structure.  He used planks balanced on tree stumps to create places to sit, and he rolled four tree cookies up along the sides to look like wheels.  Chad’s siblings watched in amazement as their brother climbed into the structure and began to ‘drive’ (using another tree cookie as a steering wheel).  'Mom,' they shouted, 'Chad made a car.  Look at Chad’s car!'

"Sally talked with tears in her eyes about how amazing it was for Chad’s brother and sister to see him in a whole new light, as a capable person with something important to ‘say.’  Sally [related] how that experience made her realize she must keep providing Chad with a way to ‘talk’ to his family through visual-spatial materials."