Play and learn in nature

AN extensive teaching career and knowledge of how young children learn best has led to the creation of a unique outdoor learning site at Grenville near Buninyong.

Ros Molyneux has traded the four walls of the early years classroom for the natural bush space on the family farm.

After 18 months of planning and approvals, Hearth Nature Play started in Term 2, offering Nature Playgroups and Nature Play excursions for Kindergartens, Long Day Care centres, parent groups and schools.

Nature Play (or Nature Pedagogy) can be defined as a holistic approach to a child’s education.

Nature is the teacher when children are exposed to the natural world regularly, learning to respect and relate to the natural environment.

It can be experienced through programs such as Forest Schools, Bush Kinder and Nature Playgroups under the guidance of a qualified and experienced Leader.

There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting children benefit from being in nature, particularly in unstructured natural environments. This type of play is essential for children’s physical and emotional growth and allows all children to participate successfully.

One of Ros’ favourite quotes is ‘Children can’t bounce off the walls if we take away the walls’. It symbolises the natural affinity children have with the outdoors as opposed to the man-made indoor environment.

Nature Play also fosters creativity and imagination and social skills, as children use found materials to create their own play scenarios. Sensory integration and motor development are promoted, as well as stamina and resilience. These skills are particularly necessary in our current environment where the children are increasingly spending large amounts of time indoors.

A typical Nature Play session may include open-ended play with logs, branches, leaves and mud, cubby building, bushwalks, as well as nature-based music, art and storytelling.

Children’s connection to Country is promoted through learning about the plants and animals on Wadawurrung Country, including learning their traditional names, and acknowledging the importance of deepening understanding of First Nations culture.

Sustainability and environmental stewardship starts with our youngest children. “If children don’t grow up knowing about nature, they won’t understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it.” -Sir David Attenborough.

Parents and Educators attend Nature Play with the children. Whilst close supervision is maintained, children are also encouraged to self-assess risk, and so gradually become more confident in the environment and their own abilities. This is evident in a child confidently balancing along a fallen log, dragging a tree branch or using sticks to create a cubby.

Enrolments for Term 3 will be open soon, and families and Early Childhood services are encouraged to book early to secure a place.

Hearth Nature Play can be found at hearthnatureplay.com.au or @hearthnatureplay on Instagram and Facebook.