CHILDREN and staff at Lang Lang Preschool gave thanks last week for a new rainwater tank that’s helping to transform their playground.

The drought took a savage toll on the preschool’s garden but staff said the 1000-litre tank, donated by building material supplier Hanson, had already made a difference.

Preschool director Kerry Rogers said having a water tank would not only help around the school grounds but also educate children about the importance of using water wisely.

“It’s a great investment for the future,” she said.

“We spent a lot of time and effort two years ago to really develop our outdoor space into a ‘magic garden’ for the children and seeing it wither in the recent drought has been disappointing for us all.

“We have made adjustments by replacing some of the more water-needy plants and planting water wise plantings and our garden is now coming alive again.”

Mrs Rogers said research on children’s learning and the development of self-esteem and resilience reinforced the theory that children need natural environments that they could explore, manipulate and control.

“This includes gardening, ‘cooking’ with mud and leaves, making mud paving for roads as well as a variety of activities that include water,” Mrs Rogers said.

“The sensory experience of messy play outdoors is vital for the development of young children.”