Our Nature Play Values in Action
These extracts from our educators’ reflections on children’s experiences in the outdoor classroom demonstrate how our nature play values support and guide children’s exploration and learning.
Immersion in Nature
Children experience immersion in nature to explore, engage with and discover the natural world.
A tyre filled with leaves and rain caught some of the children’s attention in the outdoor classroom. They thought if they looked inside, they’d find some bugs. They searched for ages, lifting the leaves and looking underneath, calling out to other children whenever they saw any movement. The children also noticed leaves floating in the water trapped in the rim of the tyre, and began to place more leaves into the water, watching these float. One child had the idea to let handfuls of leaves fall from his hands and fingers, making the leaves look like rain. Other children joined in, joyfully picking up handfuls of leaves to throw into the air, and into the tyre. To anyone else, it was just a tyre filled with sodden leaves… to the children, it was beautiful, delightful, magic!
Connecting with Nature
Children connect with nature in ways that touch the soul of each child, whether that be through observing living creatures or using the sense to engage with the natural world.
The rain started just before we were about to go on a bug hunt in the outdoor classroom, so the children decided to take off their shoes to jump in the puddles as the rain came down. Some of the children ran with excitement to get their feet and clothes wet, while one child enjoyed feeling the wet sticks under her feet. There were shrieks of laughter from the children as they felt the warm mud on their feet, and they giggled with delight when they discovered that splashing in the mud made a loud sound. One child told her friends, “The muddy puddles are warm,” and they laughed together, feeling the water on their legs and feet.
Learning About and Connecting with First Nations Knowledge and Culture
Children learn about the Country they live on, and the traditional custodians of the land and their values around caring for Country.
For a couple of weeks one of the children had been seeking to make tools in nature, specifically hammers and axes, during his visits to the outdoor classroom. Some of the other children were inspired to build similar tools and this began to consume their time when visiting the outdoor classroom. Educator Nicky explained to the children that the First Nations peoples who were the Traditional custodians of the land on which The Infants’ Home is located, Wangal and Gadigal Land, often built similar tools and weapons here using similar material and ideas. She found some pictures to show the children, who were really excited to see images of tools made by First Nations People in nature.
Learning About and Caring for Ecosystems
Children learn about the natural environment, the diversity of ecosystems and how to respect the wellbeing of these ecosystems.
A safety barrier was constructed to protect some spiders that had spun webs in the outdoor classroom. There was a lot of rich conversation among the children about why spiders are important. They discussed how other creatures rely on spiders as a food source and that spiders also eat other small creatures, which is helpful, as otherwise there would be too many bugs. The children spoke about what types of bugs might eat, or be eaten by, a spider, and educators introduced the words ‘predator’ and ‘prey’ to the conversation. Educator Sima commented “The discussions around spiders and their role in the ecosystem beautifully highlight the children’s growing understanding of caring for Country”.
Engaging in Self-Led Play and Learning
Children engage in self-led play where their personal interests and imaginations are nurtured.
Educator Nicky observed “It’s all those loose parts offered by nature that captivate children’s imagination and allow those items to be just about anything in children’s minds…. The palm frond that educator Sarah brought into the outdoor classroom two weeks ago has been afforded many identities, including a bed, a sleigh and a boat. It has i
Exploring Adventurous Play
Children explore and test the capacities of their bodies, experiencing challenges and explore risk.
Swinging ropes were added to the outdoor classroom. Using the ropes is hard work but increasing numbers of children have managed to lift their feet off the ground and hold themselves up for several seconds at a time—they are so very determined! At the same time as it offers children a sense of exhilaration and thrill, they are also developing their large and small muscle. Their vestibular systems, responsible for balance and spatial awareness, are also being stimulated.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like more information, please email us at childrensservices@theinfantshome.org.au.