abc radio 774 Hilary Harper talks to Doug about Bush Kinder

https://soundcloud.com/774-abc-melbourne/teacher-doug-fargher-joined-hilary-harper-to-talk-about-bush-kinder

More Nature in Early Childhood Services

Last week I had the pleasure of running professional learning sessions for educators in Banyule and Boroondara. It is great to hear that many participants are already incorporating nature and the outdoors into their programs. They are noticing the benefits and are are looking at ways to extend their practice.

Bush Kinder and Regulations

Bush Kinder has challenged many educators view on what early childhood education should look like.
Over the past fortnight I have been fortunate to make conference presentations and engage in discussion with many inspired educators at the City of Yarra and Wyndham City. These Councils see the benefits that engaging children in nature will have on their community.
Too often as educators we do not follow through with great ideas in fear of regulations. Sadly we do this even when we know our ideas are good for children.
As advocates for children we need to question and read more deeply. Australian law and regulations can and does support good curriculum ideas. The Australian National Quality Framework certainly supports educators providing meaningful learning experiences to children. When offering great ideas like Bush Kinder, educators will be challenged to justify why they are offering it. It is important to recognise and articulate why and how Bush Kinder benefits children, their community and the wider world.

With Claire Warden at Wyndham's educators conference.

Greening Australia at Melbourne Museum

Together my colleague Annie Jenkins and I had the pleasure of sharing Bush Kinder stories at the Melbourne Museum.
It was fantastic to see interested representatives from the Children's Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne, the Werribee Open Range Zoo, Merri Creek  and rangers from parks within the City of Melbourne. These forward thinking people are all looking at ways of providing appropriate wild play spaces for children.
Educators working in early childhood, primary and outside school hours care were also participants in our workshop. They saw clear educational benefit in spending more time teaching their students outdoors in nature.

Bush Kinder at KU Conference

Sue Elliott and I are looking forward to presenting at the KU conference.