At Florence Road Pre School, we are proud to have a specialist Bush Kinder program for our 4-year-old Kinder groups. This involves the children having a weekly session in a zoned area in the bush – rain or shine.
We want to give our children the chance to spend quality time outdoors. We believe that spontaneous and undirected playtime in a natural environment is one of the most valuable educational opportunities we can give our children.
Children are natural learners. Bush Kinder will provide your child with 3 hours of uninterrupted play in the bush, using what nature has provided as learning materials. They will have the opportunity to play in the rain, roll down grassy mounds, balance along fallen logs, get involved in dramatic play, find insects and draw with sticks in the ground. The opportunities for children to construct their own learning is endless.
Research has shown that benefits of Bush Kinder include:
- Increased confidence, motivation and concentration.
- Increased social, physical and language skills.
- Deeper conceptual understandings and respect for the natural environment.
- Increased social and imaginative play.
- More varied risk-taking behaviours and positive dispositions towards risk and challenge.
The benefits of Bush Kinder programs are not only limited to the children. Studies show that the reconnection with nature and outdoor spaces that Bush Kinder provides has also had a positive impact on the teachers, parents and the wider community.
