New CBD Child Care Bringing The Bush To City Kids

BRISBANE, Australia - June 14, 2018 - PRLog -- A city based early learning centre wants today's kids to enjoy more time enjoying nature and has introduced a Bush Kinder program to get them outside into the fresh air.

Jae Fraser, Little Scholars founder, said the bush kinder movement is about getting young children outside to play in the dirt. "So many of the modern child care centres have bland, formula driven outdoor areas that do not inspire children to get out and get dirty," he said.

"These little people are missing out on the wonders of being outside. Play has to more than technology and formal learning. To be well rounded adults, we need to incorporate more unstructured and rich learning experiences for children. This is where creativity starts."

Research shows children today are spending more time in front of screens than their parents did and are disconnected from the natural world.

Jae said the Bush Kinder program recognises the place the bush has in Australian folklore and the significance of the land in aboriginal culture.  "It draws upon and extends the existing philosophy of Little Scholars to offer a unique educational program," he said.

"No toys, no tools, no art supplies. The children and adults benefit from using only what nature has provided. This environment is providing an education that the best classrooms wouldn't be able to provide."

Little Scholars was one of the first early learning services in Queensland to incorporate this program. Little Scholars even offers Beach Kinder as part of their weekly curriculum.

Jae said children are naturally curious. "Yet, so much of the formal learning at a young age is structured. Bush Kinder engages them in inquiry-based learning," he said.

"We want to encourage our children to take risks, use their imagination, and explore. While they are having fun, they are learning – they are seeing the change of seasons, listening to the birds and using heir minds and bodies to explore the world."

A forest kindergarten is a type of preschool education for children held almost exclusively outdoors. Whatever the weather, children are encouraged to take the lead in playing, exploring, and learning in a forest or natural environment.

Jae said studies have found so many benefits to this type of learning. "Nature is important to children's development in every major way—intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually and physically," he said.

"Studies in the US show that schools that use outdoor classrooms and other forms of nature-based experiential education support significant student gains in social studies, science, language arts, and math. Students in outdoor science programs improved their science testing scores by 27%.
"Bush kinder is great for how children interact with each other. They get along with others, are healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play outside."

https://mylittlescholars.com.au/