Nature Play

The Early Years at Mount Carmel from our 3-year-olds in ELC to Year One students, have now all begun regular visits to Lambert Park. 

We are fortunate to have this natural space close to the College allowing us to give children time to play, learn and grow. We understand how incredibly important it is for children to engage with natural surroundings and play outside in an unstructured and child-led environment. 

Studies abound on the benefits of allowing children to play regularly within a natural setting and it is well documented that this type of play supports the whole development of the child. 

Some of the benefits of Nature Play are: 

Physically, children improve muscle strength, balance and coordination leading to advanced motor skills, lower body mass index and generally, better health. Playing in nature uses all five senses allowing for more sensory engagement through exploration, it reduces stress levels, anxiety and fatigue. 

Intellectually, nature play expands the learning space, supports brain development and sparks curiosity. Nature based learning enhances educational outcomes by improving children’s critical thinking abilities. It generates autonomy and decision-making skills, increases capacities for creativity, problem solving and overall intellectual development. 

Socially, nature play builds the essential social skills of communication and collaboration.

Children who play outside tend to be stronger emotionally and process things with greater ease than children who don’t have ample opportunity to play outside. A 2019 study found that increased childhood exposure to fresh air and greenery is associated with better mental health later in life. Being given opportunities to take appropriate risks and cope with success and failure builds an inner resilience and an ability to face consequences. 

We notice how quickly children move from tentative and ‘scared’ to competent, independent and joyful interactions with each other and nature. 

Our children are fostered spiritually by acknowledging the gift and the beauty of nature. They are encouraged to respect country as we gather at the end of each session to practice ‘Dadirri’ an Aboriginal word meaning ‘inner deep listening and quiet still awareness and waiting’. 

With our Early Years classes, we value giving them the opportunity to spend time in nature, to find something to do, to make choices and to feel competent. Being in fresh air with others in a variety of weather conditions and disconnected from digital devices is attending to the holistic development of our students.