Kids go bush to play and learn

A LOCAL preschool has celebrated the success of its recently introduced Bush Kinder, where students venture out once a week for several hours of unstructured play-based learning in a nearby natural setting.

Havilah Road Preschool, which is operated by early education provider Y Kinders, received a grant of $6000 from the State’s Bush Kinder grants program last year.

This was the catalyst for the introduction of the regular nature play sessions.

Y Kinders executive manager children’s services Vicki Dobson said a child’s connection with the natural environment enhances other aspects of their learning.

“Fundamental to that is the idea of curiosity,” she said.

“When children are out in those natural spaces, they ask questions, they notice things, and they have that opportunity and time to embed themselves in those activities.”

Ms Dobson said as children today are spending more time in built environments, getting into natural spaces allows them to explore and expand their creativity. “The purpose is for children to be completely free of all the resources that can be constraints on how they think and look at something,” she said.

“A brick is a brick, and while you can build it into different shapes, it will only ever be a brick. But when you’re playing with mud, when you’re playing with sticks and leaves, they can become so many things.”

More information on the Bush Kinder Grants Program can be found at vic.gov.au/bush-kinder-grants-program.