Kooloora Bush Preschool…

Top Tips for Families

Why Bush Preschool is Important? And Why Now?

· Health: In a sample of children aged 3-5 in Melbourne, Victoria (Hinkley, Salmon, Okely, Crawford, & Hesketh, 2012) children spent an average of 113 minutes per day on screen-based entertainment, including television viewing, computer/Internet and electronic games use during a typical week. However, according to The Australian Government Department of Health (2012) children aged 2 to 5 years, sitting and watching television and the use of other electronic media (DVDs, computer and electronic games) should be limited to less than 1 hour per day as evidence suggests that long periods of screen time are connected with: less active, outdoor and creative play, slower development of language skills, poor social skills and an increased risk of being overweight. As the National Wildlife Federation (2014) states “our kids are out of shape, tuned out and stressed out, because they’re missing something essential to their health and development: connection to the natural world.”

· Educational Outcomes: Evidence suggests that viewing, interacting with, and being immersed in natural environments can have multiple effects on “reducing stress, increasing patience, attention span, self-discipline and recovery from mental fatigue”, (Russell et al., 2013, p. 482). The concept of bush preschool has the potential to heal and strengthen children’s minds and relationships: with environmental education being linked to better performance in maths, reading, writing and increased listening and critical thinking skills (Bartosh, 2003; Ernst & Monroe, 2004); in addition to exposure to nature can reduce ADHD symptoms (Wells, 2000). Play and exposure to green spaces can also reduce children’s stress levels, protect their emotional development and enhance their social relations (Kuo & Taylor, 2004; Ginsburg, 2007; Weinstein et al., 2009; Children & Nature Network, 2012).

· Potential Benefits of Participating in Bush Preschool:

· Improved confidence, social skills, communication, motivation and concentration;

· Improved physical stamina, fine and gross motor skills;

· Positive identity formation for individuals and communities;

· Environmentally sustainable behaviours learned and practiced;

· Increased knowledge of environment, increased frequency of visiting nature with families;

· Healthy and safe risk-taking;

· Improved creativity and resilience;

· Improved academic achievement and self-regulation;

· Reduced stress, increased patience, attention span, self-discipline and recovery from mental fatigue;

· Improved higher level cognitive skills.

Source: Forest and Nature School in Canada (2014).

· What Will a Bush Preschool Session Look Like?

1. Bush Preschool begins with a yarning circle that bonds the children together and gives a voice to their ideas. Safety rules are reiterated.

2. Children have uninterrupted time to explore and educators are there to support and build on their ideas. Sometimes a specific item such as; rope, magnifying glass or other objects may be required to support their interests therefore a grab bag will be located in the supplies trolley.

3. Children may have their morning tea at the yarning circle at a time that they wish between 9:30am and 12:00pm as this is progressive and as they are hungry.

4. When the clap sticks are played loudly, the children must return to the yarning circle, reflect on their learning and prepare to return to Kooloora Preschool.

· When Will We Not Go to Bush Preschool?

Bush Preschool will run all year round and will only be cancelled in times of extreme weather. Every Wednesday the children will attend bush preschool with parent/carer consent. If cancellation is necessary, parents/carers will be informed on arrival at preschool that day. Although cancellation is unlikely, the following information can be used as a guide to determine the possibility that the session may not go ahead.

· Forecast Temperature: 35 degrees Celsius or greater

· Forecast Wind Speed: In excess of 45km/h

· Forecast of Electrical Storm Activity

· Weather Warnings of Extreme Storm Conditions and Excessive Rainfall

· What Help Do We Need from Families to Establish our Bush Preschool?

· Help with Wet-Weather Clothing

Financial donations to purchase a class set (20) waterproof overalls and gumboots as well as a way to store this clothing.

· Parents/Carers with Skills to Share

Knowledge of habitats, wildlife and conversation, knowledge of how to use tools or tie knots and/or families willing to share their culture.

· We Need Thick Rope

· We Need 20 Tree Stumps to Form our Yarning Circle

· Identification Books for Plants, Animals and Birdlife

· Protective and Appropriate Clothing & Footwear:

· Waterproofs: Kooloora Preschool are hoping to be able to provide children with light waterproof overalls which will be worn over children’s clothing. It is important that Kooloora Bush Preschool participants wear appropriate and protective clothing and footwear that;

· Allow children to move freely to undertake activities such as; climbing, balancing, running and puddle jumping.

· Keeps children warm and dry in cold/wet weather.

· Protects children from the damaging effects of the sun, UV rays in warm weather and high UV conditions.

· Prevents sunburn, bites, scratches and stings (Even in warm weather, long sleeved tops and long pants are recommended – this clothing should be loose fitting and light).

· Footwear must keep feet and toes covered and have a flexible and gripped sole to allow children to climb and balance on uneven surfaces.

The following table provides examples of recommended clothing, clothing which is not recommended and unacceptable clothing:

Warm Weather

Cold/Wet Weather

Recommended Clothing and Footwear

Light loose fitting long sleeved tops and pants, sun-safe hat and closed toe shoes

Waterproofs, long sleeved tops and pants, beanie, layered thermals

NOT Recommended

Short sleeved tops, long skirts or dresses, shorts

Skirts, dresses (Incompatible with waterproof overalls)

Unacceptable (Cannot Go!)

Open toe shoes, sandals, thongs, crocs, singlet tops

Non-waterproof clothing (Waterproofs on top of non-waterproof clothing is acceptable and encouraged)

· Change of Clothes: All children participating in Bush Preschool are required to bring a change of clothes and footwear as they may become muddy and wet. It is recommended that the spare clothing include;

· Spare top and bottoms of appropriate thickness for the weather on the day

· Spare underwear (Singlet in winter)

· 1 pair of socks