Nature Play in Action

Children will probably get dirty! Nature Play includes mud and climbing logs and children will most likely get wet too! Remember “There is no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothing” so we would advise spare sets of play clothes, jumpers in cooler months and weather appropriate jackets. You may like to purchase a second-hand rain jacket in an Op Shop so that children are not restricted by having to stay “clean”

Barefoot play is the best! Squishy mud through their toes! We recognise the benefits of barefoot play in child development and encourage as much barefoot fun as possible. Sneakers are the best footwear for outside  bushwalks allowing for a firm grip, with gumboots and umbrellas supplied for rainy day walks. In addition there are safety vests to pull on over clothing to make children highly visible. Children and staff are likely to be engaged in nature, creating memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Our service operates an indoor / outdoor curriculum throughout the year so children have choices about where to play, however we put special emphasis on the outdoor play, which enables children to understand their world through weather, planting, flora and fauna. It allows children to explore their environment and understand their place and impact on their surrounding. The children are supported to engage in meaningful interactions with the land, animals and plants and the whole community is educated in the importance of sustainable ways of living. If children so wish, they can be involved in composting and preparing garden beds, help to look after the animals like chickens, ducks and other pets, or be involved with tending to the plants, like flowers, grasses or edibles that they are free to pick and eat.