Our support of early years communities doing Bush Kinder and Nature Play programs in local natural areas continues to strengthen with projects funded by the Cities of Whittlesea and Hume. MCMC’s philosophy reflects both the state education requirements for early years and local government concerns about the impacts on public open spaces. Our philosophy is: Leave no footprint; Listen to children; Acknowledge Wurundjeri Country in age-appropriate ways; Respect early years educators.

For more on the benefits of these progams, follow the read more prompt.

Our new projects in Hume and Whittlesea suggest that people continue to be affected by COVID 19. Early years educators report that some families are uncertain about their children being outdoors in general, preferring indoor environments and perceiving them as safer places for children’s health.

This contrasts with the Victorian Government requirement, which states: “Outdoor spaces should include a range of different natural features such as sand, soil, grass, a variety of different plantings and trees. It is not enough for children to look at trees and plants in education and care services, they must be able to actively explore, engage with, and experience different types of natural environments."

To help overcome this challenge, we are sharing a recent research article that discusses improved immunity for children in daycare settings when they go out to natural areas and are able to touch leaf litter and soil as part of their daycare experiences.