We are thrilled to announce that our Bush Kindy program has begun!
A bush Kindergarten is a type of preschool education for children held mainly outdoors. Research has shown that children who spend more time outdoors in nature are happier, stronger, smarter and more social. Whatever the weather, children are encouraged to take lead in playing, exploring and learning in a natural environment.
Every Friday, the children in our Bush Kindy program walk with our educators into council bush land. The area is accessed from the street our centre is located on, therefore no roads are crossed!
Our children are given the opportunity to PLAY outdoors with limited interruptions. We encourage the children to climb, pick up sticks, explore, discover, run, observe and respect the animals/insects found in their natural habitat, investigate and connect with nature.
Our simple rules? No lick. No pick. Be kind. Be careful.
Nature provides both an enjoyable place and objects for play and learning. There are many benefits to reconnecting children with nature – both in potential improvements in physical and mental health and in improving development and play.
1. Children who play regularly in natural settings are sick less often. Mud, sand, water, leaves, sticks, pine cones and gum nuts can help to stimulate children’s immune system as well as their imagination.
2. Natural, irregular and challenging spaces help kids learn to recognise, assess and negotiate risk and build confidence and competence.
3. Children who play in natural settings play in more diverse, imaginative and creative ways and show improved language and collaboration skills.
4. Bullying behaviour is greatly reduced where children have access to diverse nature-based play environments.
5. There is evidence that some behavioural or emotional problems in children, such as attention deficit disorder, can be improved by exposure to green space.
There are also potential benefits to the environment, as a generation connected to nature is more likely to value and protect it.
“Mindfulness builds resilience by giving children skills to help them to cope better with stress, as well as engage more fully with themselves and the world”. ~ KidsMatter Early Childhood.
It has been wonderful to observe the children take lead and let their imaginations run wild. Each week, we observe growth; we see children become more mindful of their surroundings, become more resilient and confident in risky play and see calmer, happier beings explore their natural playground independently and/or with their peers.
“Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.” ~ Albert Einstein.
