Exploring the Great Outdoors with Cire Bush Kinder
At Cire Early Learning, we believe in the importance of incorporating nature into our curriculum. Our Bush Kinder program at our Yarra Junction Centre has been a staple for over two decades, providing countless opportunities for children to explore, learn and grow. Due to this, we’re thrilled to expand this program to Chirnside Park, Mt Evelyn, and Pakenham (Hollins) locations, ensuring all families can benefit.
“We’re excited to bring the wonders of nature to more children across all our centres. Especially in suburban areas where these opportunities may be limited.” – Diletta Lanciana, Executive Manager, Cire Early Learning
Benefits of Bush Kinder
Research has shown that spending time outdoors has numerous benefits for children’s development. From boosting physical health and motor skills to improving emotional wellbeing, the great outdoors offers endless opportunities for growth.
This means that children not only get to enjoy nature but also engage in structured learning activities that align with their developmental needs; these include:
- Fostering Friendships and Social Skills
One of the many benefits of our Bush Kinder program is the opportunity for children to develop friendships and social skills in a natural setting. Through exploration, play and collaborative activities, children learn how to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and work together towards shared goals. - Enhanced Physical Development
The great outdoors is a natural gym, offering children an expansive playground to develop their gross motor skills. Running through spaces, balancing on logs, and climbing gentle slopes isn’t just fun; it’s a crucial part of physical development that flips the switch on the serotonin that keeps spirits high. - Emotional Wellbeing
The calming sway of trees and the quiet rustle of leaves often whisper the loudest messages of peace and tranquillity. The children at Cire Early Learning are privy to this daily discourse, learning patience, empathy, and a sense of place in the world. - Learning the Ecosystem
The ecosystem isn’t just biology; it’s a teaching method. Nature abounds with lessons in recycling, life cycles, and stewardship – lessons ingrained through experience rather than taught in a classroom. - Building School Readiness
Did you know that uninterrupted play in nature can help prepare children for school? Our Bush Kinder program focuses on building the learning dispositions needed for school readiness, such as curiosity, creativity, and resilience. By nurturing these skills in a natural environment, we set our little learners up for success in their future learning endeavours.
Little Moments Turn into Big Discoveries
At Cire Early Learning, we believe every moment is an opportunity for growth and discovery. Our Bush Kinder program allows children to learn through hands-on experiences in nature, turning seemingly small moments into big discoveries. Whether it’s observing insects (mini beasts), building with sticks, or exploring different textures, each child’s unique interests are encouraged and nurtured.
In a world increasingly screen-bound, reconnecting with nature isn’t just a passing fancy; it’s a responsibility we owe to future generations. At Cire Early Learning, our commitment to nature isn’t an add-on activity—it’s at the core of our philosophy and practice through our renowned Bush Kinder program.
Preparing for Tomorrow
Bush Kinder doesn’t replace classroom learning but enriches it, making it more rooted in the child’s experiences. The outdoors is unpredictable, and that’s the point. Every unplanned event, from a drizzle of rain to discovering a snail, is an opportunity to build resilience. We don’t shield children from nature; we help them learn to bask in its beauty by respecting their surroundings and adapting to its changes.
At Cire Early Learning, we believe that every moment holds the power of potential. Every discovery, shared laugh, and new step are the building blocks of the adults to come, and we treat them with the reverence they deserve.
Living and Learning Sustainability
Sustainability may be a heavy word for little ears, but the actions are as light as letting go of a leaf. By integrating the principles of sustainability into everyday activities, we prepare the children not just for school – but for life.
Bush Kinder is available at all our centres. If you would like to know more, contact us today.
We want to thank the Department of Education (Victorian) for providing $6000 grants for some of our kindergartens to assist with delivering this program.
