Are assistant Cert III's not allowed to put out new equipment?

Hi Barbie. No to my knowledge the outside and inside programmes are run in the same fashion- learning areas set up and then interests catered for accordingly. I would argue that puzzles would always need to be provided, much like drama/ dress ups, construction, sand pit/ water, quiet reading area , gross motor area etc etc... The EYLF has struck fear into a lot of people because it puts the onus on child led programming but really we have a responsibility to offer activities to children to gauge their interests! Good on you for seeing the children needed stimuli ,they grow bored so quickly and need fresh activities all the time. if I was to add something like puzzles, I would then observe the children's interactions with the activity, document their interest and add it to the program if it appeared they were engaged and interested.

YAY for initiative
Good on you Barbie you did the right thing.

The EYLF is a guideline only, if we ONLY put out things that children showed an interest in then life would be very hard indeed.... and how can children show and interest in things that they may not have been exposed to unless we put it out to see IF they are interested in it.

Things like puzzles etc should be out anyway and rotated week to week so the children's experiences dont get stuck in a rut.

I have seen the same issues before too, the children having the same stuff on the shelves week after week after week..... result ...rowdy children who were bored and didn't really play or sit just threw stuff off shelves played a few seconds and moved on to do the same to another thing.
Solution ... changed things around, put new things out ... children's curiosity peaked ... interest returned... the focused on things because it was new and they wanted to do it.

Inside or outside, things need to be changed week to week so the children do not get bored.