Creating, building, imagining—these are the foundations of meaningful early childhood learning. At Tiny Hoppers Summerside, our young scholars recently engaged in a hands-on project that beautifully brought all of these elements together: designing and building their very own pergola and mini garden.
This experience went far beyond a simple activity. It was an opportunity for children to step into the role of designers, builders, and caretakers. Using open-ended materials such as wooden planks, planters, and artificial flowers, the children collaborated to transform loose parts into a purposeful and inviting space. Through this process, they explored creativity in a tangible way—making decisions about structure, placement, and aesthetics while expressing their unique ideas.
From an early childhood education perspective, projects like this are incredibly valuable. They support the development of executive functioning skills such as planning, problem-solving, and flexible thinking. As children worked together to assemble the pergola, they practiced communication, negotiated roles, and learned how to cooperate toward a shared goal. These social interactions are essential in building emotional intelligence and teamwork skills.
The addition of the mini garden introduced another rich layer of learning. Children naturally develop a sense of responsibility and care when engaging with nature-inspired play. Arranging flowers, organizing the space, and later using it as a cozy reading nook encouraged both imaginative play and calm, focused engagement. It also created an environment that fosters mindfulness—something increasingly important even at a young age.
One of the most meaningful outcomes of this project was the sense of ownership the children developed. Because they were involved in every step—from idea generation to construction—the finished pergola became more than just a play space. It became theirspace. This sense of pride reinforces confidence and encourages children to see themselves as capable contributors to their environment.
Incorporating projects like this into early learning settings aligns with play-based and inquiry-driven approaches. It allows educators to follow the children’s interests while intentionally supporting developmental goals across multiple domains—cognitive, social, emotional, and physical.
The pergola and mini garden now stand as a testament to what young learners can achieve when given the tools, trust, and opportunity to explore. More importantly, it serves as a daily reminder that meaningful learning often happens when children are invited to create, collaborate, and connect—with each other and with the world around them.
