About Bush Kinder
At De Garis Kindergarten we believe that children learn and develop best when engaged in play and an important part of this play is being outside in nature. Bush Kinder was developed in response to research that shows outdoor activities in a natural environment is extremely beneficial to children’s health, wellbeing and development.
Originating in Scandinavia in the 1950’s, the forest preschool approach has been used as a framework for Bush Kinder in Australia, where children are encouraged to play in, and learn from, our natural environment.
Bush Kinder will provide your child with 3 hours of play in the bush, using what nature has provided as learning materials and an ideal environment for them to learn in. Educators will support your children as they take risks and face challenges essential to well rounded learning.
Bush Kinder will be a special part of your child’s total Kinder experience. It will compliment our daily curriculum at De Garis Kindergarten through the use of natural materials and provocations in the learning environments.
Benefits of Bush Kinder
- Increased confidence, motivation, concentration and resilience
- Increased social, physical and language skills
- Deeper conceptual understanding and respect for the natural environment
- Mud, sand, water, leaves, sticks ect. can stimulate children’s immune systems making them sick less often
- Children are more physically active and more likely to be a healthy weight
- Children are more resistant to stress, have lower incidence of behavioural disorders, anxiety and depression, and have a higher measure of self-worth
- Bush Kinder deepens children’s understanding of community and where they fit in and offers better opportunities for children to be present and authentically engaged in real life
- Encourages a well connected, cohesive community that is environmentally aware
When and where
Our Bush Kinder program operates out of Park For Play Natural Bushlands on Eleventh Street on a Wednesday morning 8.45am-11.45am.
Download 2023 Bush Kinder Handbook (PDF size 1.1mb)