Bush Kinder Evaluation Report

Click image to open report

Thank you Sue and Barbara a beautifully written report.

Bush Kinder at KU Conference

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

Jacaranda Bush Kinder

Congratulations to the team of educators, parents and children of Bush Kinder at Jacaranda Preschool.

It has been great following the your Bush Kinder News.

It was a privilege to assist your community get Bush Kinder up and going.

Bush Kinder for Gowrie Australia

Gowrie are a leading training, research, and resource agency in Australia.

At the end of 2011 I was approached to write an article for their journal

Here is a link. Reflections Winter 2012 issue 4

Bush Kinder presentation University of Melbourne

I had the pleasure of lecturing to a group of Master of Teaching students at the University of Melbourne.
Some students were clearly aligned to Bush Kinder with their existing teaching practice and philosophy, others were challenged.
I enjoyed hearing stories from students with diverse world and cultural backgrounds.
Industrial, urban and country environments all provide opportunities for children to engage with nature.
One student told of playing in a paved courtyard with stones, burnt matches, another of waiting for a flower to bloom that signified holidays with her family. Memories of a childhood in nature evoke powerful and positive emotional responses.
Thank you to the students for your insightful questions and to Sarah Young  [teacher/ lecturer/ clinical specialist] for your guidance and the invitation.

Climbing trees

“Once a symbol of an idyllic childhood, this nature-loving pastime is so significantly on the decline that only 19% of Australian children enjoy a clamber in their local tree” Planet Ark research 2011

How high are children allowed to climb at Bush Kinder?

Children have different levels of confidence and ability. Reaching for that first branch may require an educator to be beside a child ready to catch. It may also be appropriate for an educator to watch from afar with a child many metres up a tree. 

Dirt Doesn't Hurt

An early years forum looking at mental health in the early years.

Launch of the "Dirt Doesn't Hurt" resource.

Enabling children to experience natural play, independently

How do we enable families to give their children more opportunities for independent, outdoor, creative, messy play?

How do we support them to let their children build confidence, take educated risks, and become resilient?

How can we pass this information on to parents, and model these behaviours in our settings – bringing our communities onside

Presenters: Kim Coulter, Doug Fargher, Vanessa Wiggenraad, Leigh Bartlett