This Child in the City article (9 June 2023) describes the growth of ‘bush’ or nature kinders in Victoria and other parts of Australia, and how the benefits of these programmes are being recognised through research.
Education in bush kinders is often child-led, where children are free to roam, play, be creative and discover what is available in nature for play. The need for the adults to be notice and be aware of nature is also emphasised, along with the opportunities the programmes bring children.
This includes: building children’s confidence, engagement with and understanding of nature and a connection with nature, develop environmental awareness and learn skills including risk-taking, persistence, predicting, and social and emotional awareness. In addition, children can build fundamental skills that they can apply to future learning, allowing for more nuanced noticing to occur.
