Author: Daniel Burton
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The Wisdom of Risk: What Children Already Know
There is something quietly profound about watching a child at the edge of a decision. You see it often in natural spaces. A child stands at the base of a… Read more
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Play is Not an Extra: Why Children’s Rights Matter More Than Ever
I recently attended the Australian Play Summit in Canberra. At the Summit, I had the privilege hearing Dr Naomi Lott’s presentation on Article 31 in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 31 states… Read more
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Play Support – The Importance of Language
There are moments in education where something small catches your attention, and the more you sit with it, the more you realise it isn’t small at all. I recently came… Read more
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Reflections from Kuala Lumpur: What the World is Telling Us About Early Childhood Education
There is something deeply grounding about gathering with educators from around the world and realising that, despite our different contexts, cultures, climates, and systems, many of us are carrying remarkably… Read more
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Place and Pedagogy: Reflections from the 2026 Outdoor Learning Conference in Banff
There are some conferences where you leave with a notebook full of strategies, ideas, and resources that eventually find their way onto shelves or into folders on your computer. And… Read more
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The Aesthetic of Play: Protecting the Messy Beauty of Childhood
“The idea of the ‘aesthetic of play’ isn’t about neat spaces or visual perfection. It’s the beauty in chaos, the poetry of half-built cubby houses and scattered loose parts. It’s… Read more
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Sensory Risk-Taking at Bush Playgroup
At Bush Playgroup this week, something small and beautiful unfolded beside the Swan River. What began as a hesitant touch of clay slowly grew into curiosity, confidence, and pride. Moments… Read more
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Walking the Evolved Nest Path – My Journey as a Nesting Ambassador
Earlier this year, I received a call from my friend and colleague, Cameron Sprague of Stramash Outdoor Nursery in Scotland. Cameron is someone I deeply respect – not only for the way… Read more
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Windmills and Nests: Training Our Senses on the Road
On the long stretches of road that wind through the South West of Western Australia, Trudi and I found ourselves playing a simple game. We call it “Windmill.” The rules… Read more
