Bush Kinder – notes 1

The benefits of bush kinder

Spending more time outdoors in bush kinder programs can make a big difference for children. It helps with:

1. Wellbeing and physical development, like strength, co-ordination, balance, eyesight and endurance.
2. Understanding things like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a hands-on way.
3. Learning to make smart choices and explore new things while staying safe.
4. Feeling closer to nature and caring about environmental sustainability as they grow up.

Physical activity – children take part in more physical
activity outdoors during in-nature programs and in all
weather. This is an important outcome for children as
more and more children and families have limited access
to natural environments at home.

• Nature dispositions – many parents reported that their
  child had a greater interest in nature and positive attitudes
  to natural elements.
• Social skills – educators and teachers observed more
  collaborative play and children relating to others with
  understanding, respect and supportiveness.
• Respect and equity – educators and teachers observed
  less gender stereotyped play at bush kinder than at the
  service premises, and when siblings visited bush kinder
  they integrated easily into the play scenarios; all children
  were welcomed to play.
• Curiosity – Bush kinder aligns with the approved learning
  frameworks outcome that ‘children develop dispositions
  for learning such as curiosity, creativity, commitment,
  enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflectivity’.
• Reflection skills – Children changed the way they
  interacted with the environment and spent periods of
  time sitting, reflecting and participating in philosophical
  discussions with peers, educators and teachers.
• Creativity – Parents described that at home, children
  became less dependent on manufactured toys, and
  instead collected rocks, twigs and other natural materials
  for innovative and creative play (Chancellor and Elliot,
  2014).
  providing children with a chance to learn how to manage
• risk and as a result develop an understanding of safety
• allowing children to explore their desire for risk in a
  controlled and carefully supervised situation, reducing the
  likelihood that they will seek out greater unmanaged risks
  for themselves
• the opportunity to take part in experiences that build on
  the child’s capabilities, such as climbing trees, jumping
  from a height, balancing and sliding. This allows children
  to accept challenge and experience feelings of success
  and pride
• providing the unique opportunity to experience thrill and
  exhilaration
• providing children with the opportunity to practice and
  improve their movement skills and spatial awareness.
• QUESTIONS TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENT OF
• YOUR IN-NATURE PEDAGOGY
• How does your service’s philosophy guide your in-nature
  pedagogy and teaching decisions?
• How do your practices, including consideration of the
  Child Safe Principles, consistently align with the service’s
  in-nature philosophy?
• In what ways does the in-nature approach support and
  promote children’s safety and consistently align with
  the design and delivery of the educational program and
  service philosophy?
• How does your in-nature pedagogy demonstrate a strong
  commitment to the principles, practices and learning
  outcomes of the approved learning framework/s?
• Useful Links:
• https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/-/media/project/pv/main/parks/documents/learning-in-nature/updated-handbooks/bush-kinder-handbook_updated.pdf?la=en&rev=f6e81047e65a4a4f92f7117aa775f735&hash=A8549EADB206379120A956814A14324E571B4D98
• https://natureplayqld.org.au/
• https://www.natureplay.org.au/
• https://www.cela.org.au/publications/amplify!-blog/july-2017/nature-program
• https://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/bespoke/vicece/outdoor-learning/
• https://www.ari.vic.gov.au/research/people-and-nature/victorians-value-nature
• https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/biodiversity/biodiversity-plan?_gl=1*ip8ox1*_ga*MTk3ODg3NTg2My4xNjY3NTIzNjkw*_ga_Q5DJPC5S3F*MTY5NTE5MDE2My41NC4xLjE2OTUxOTA0MzguMjMuMC4w&_ga=2.260320909.1645642061.1695190163-1978875863.1667523690
• ACECQA. (2023). THE THEORY OF IN-NATURE PLAY. https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-12/In-natureplay-InformationSheet2-Thehowandwhyofin-natureprograms.pdf
• Bush Kinders | Victorian Government. (2024). http://Www.vic.gov.au. https://www.vic.gov.au/bush-kinders