Key ideas
All-weather play
Sessions go ahead in rain and cold, with the right clothing. Extreme heat, storms and high winds are the exceptions.
Healthy risk
Climbing logs and balancing on rocks teach children to judge what they can safely do.
Natural loose parts
Sticks, leaves, bark and stones become cubby houses, cooking pots and treasure.
Caring for Country
Children learn about local plants, animals and the Traditional Owners of the land they play on.
A bush kinder session
Children arrive in waterproof gear and boots and gather in a circle to talk about the day's boundaries and safety rules. Then they spread out: some build a cubby from branches, others search for bugs under logs or watch the creek after rain. Morning tea is eaten on a tarp. Educators carry first aid kits and a way to call for help in an emergency, and keep children within agreed boundaries.
How it helps children
- Strength and coordination. Uneven ground, climbing and carrying build gross motor skills.
- Resilience. Children learn to cope with cold, wet and small setbacks.
- Curiosity. Nature changes every week, giving endless questions to explore.
- Wellbeing. Time outdoors supports calm, focus and healthy sleep.
Things to weigh up
- You will need wet-weather gear, sturdy boots and spare clothes, and children will come home muddy.
- Ask how the centre plans for sun, heat, ticks, snakes and toileting at the site.
- Under the new device rules, educators on nature programs carry phones only for emergencies, so photos of the session come later through the centre's own system.
When you visit a centre
Look for
- A written risk assessment for the bush kinder site
- A clear clothing list for families
Questions to ask
- Where is the site, and how do children get there?
- What weather cancels a session?