NATURE PLAY
ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE
Nature play
“Healing the broken bond between our young and nature is in our
self-interest, not only because aesthetics or justice demand it, but
also because our mental, physical and spiritual health depends on it.”
Richard Louv.
The modern world within which our children are learning
and developing provides both opportunities and challenges.
At KU we have long strived to create sustainable, natural
learning environments for children. For many years we
watched on as some childcare centres installed large plastic
fixed outdoor equipment, with little regard for the benefits
that come from playing in, learning about, and fostering a
love of nature.
More than simply ‘playing outdoors’, nature play
encourages children to take an active, hands-on
approach to exploring and discovering the world around
them. An increasing body of research confirms that
nature play has a positive effect on a child’s physical,
mental and emotional development, resulting in
children that are stronger and more agile, happier and
less anxious, and are more effective and considered
problem solvers.
Recently, as more centres and families are seeking to
reconnect with and foster a love of nature, some KU
centres and educators continue to operate at the very
forefront of play-based, nature pedagogy in Australia.
One such centre is KU Ourimbah.
Located on the Central Coast campus of the University
of Newcastle, KU Ourimbah is blessed to be surrounded
by dense natural bushland, rainforest and waterways.
However, the engagement of children and educators
with nature is far more than circumstantial.
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Director and Educational Leader, Rosanne Pugh, and her
team, have intentionally implemented a Bush Preschool
program, that sees the woodland and waterways as an
extension of the classroom. Children venture daily into
the neighbouring ‘wild space’ where they experience the
seasons and learn to observe and respond to changes in
the weather and environment. The trees, branches, rocks
and leaf litter become the playground equipment, and
children have become skilled researchers who document
their discoveries and adventures.
Rosanne explains “to be hands on and delight in nature
gives children the opportunity to wonder about it, to care
for it and to take responsibility to look after it.”
KU Ourimbah achieved a coveted Excellent ACECQA rating
and was awarded the United Nations Association of Australia
World Environment Day Award for Environmental Education.
Children from the centre also featured as the ‘experienced
explorers’ within KU’s 2017 marketing campaign.
Rosanne is herself taking a leadership role within the
sector, inspiring and influencing other educators to
challenge themselves and their children to “get out and
get dirty”, and is a regular presenter and educator within
KU’s Professional Learning Program. The sole recipient
of the 2017 Premier’s Early Childhood Education Teacher
Scholarship, Rosanne received $10,000 to undertake a
month-long study tour in Australia and New Zealand,
visiting schools, universities and centres that practice
excellence in sustainability and reconciliation.
KU
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