
The children had such conviction about knowing what the birds were saying. More than that, they felt such a strong connection with birds.
Backyard sleepovers with my nephew are becoming a tradition. Once a term, we pitch a tent in the backyard, cook outdoors, have an outdoor bath, make pancakes for breakfast and work on the treehouse. The highlights of our most recent camp-out were playtime, dinner and interaction with the neighbours. This experience really pulled us into…
At Educated by Nature we are passionate about mentoring, and weave it through all our programs. People often talk about mentoring for older children, teenagers and adults. But how do you mentor a toddler? It turns out to be much the same – through deep listening, meaningful interaction and extension through the feedback and the actions…
Trudi Bennett recently visited Claire Warden in Scotland on Mindstretchers’ International Study Tour of nature kindergartens. During the tour, the group visited the Cranog Centre and explored some primitive skills from the Iron Age. Claire and Trudi discuss the importance of linking with cultural heritage as part developing relationships in nature connection practices. This episode…
Trudi Bennett recently visited Claire Warden in Scotland on Mindstretchers’ International Study Tour of nature kindergartens and the International Association of Nature Pedagogues’ conference. In this video, Claire Warden clarifies the meaning of ‘nature pedagogy’, highlighting how we all need to work together to bring nature connection to children across the world no matter where…
Why is cubby building such an important childhood experience? Looking through a collection of sepia photographs picturing bush huts and tents, plus stick furniture from the pioneering days of Australia, a child calls out, “Oh great! Can we make a big tent like that?” And so, the inspiration had started to well up in the…
Daniel and I are intentional about incorporating sensory risk taking in our programs. Particularly when it comes to exploring sticky clay on our bodies and oozing through our toes. My passion for sensory risk taking emerged whilst I was working in the kitchen garden at Bold Park Community School making cob with children. Cob is…
At our Mud Pies Nature Playgroups this term we have been exploring child development through the art of weaving. Weaving, threading and sewing requires strong finger muscles and good coordination. In support of their fine motor development, children first need to strengthen their gross motor systems, building core muscles and shoulder girdles to be able to…