Wilderness Educator, artist and mother Emily van Lidth de Jeude hosts this Outdoor Exploration video series as a way of keeping in touch with nature during the pandemic. Emily and her son explore the roadsides and open park areas near their home and simply share what interests them in the moment from weeds by their front step to veggies in the garden and the adventure of starting a new chicken flock.
If you’re a parent, ask yourself – when was the last time your child climbed a tree? With increasing reliance on technology and parental safety concerns, children have never been so separated from the natural world. Catalyst investigates the science of outdoor play and shows how it can improve children’s health, academic performance, mental well-being, personal and social development, concentration levels and symptoms of ADHD.
Length: 6m : 19s
Current research shows that our children are more anxious and depressed than at any other time in history. Psychologist and mother of two, Kristina Towill, shares why play is critical to children’s brain development and why free, unstructured play outdoors with friends is the easiest and most effective way for children to learn essential life skills and competencies. Includes advice on how to take action and create change.
Length: 7m : 14s
Current research shows that our children are more anxious and depressed than at any other time in history. Psychologist and mother of two, Kristina Towill, shares why play is critical to children’s brain development and why free, unstructured play outdoors with friends is the easiest and most effective way for children to learn essential life skills and competencies. Includes advice on how to take action and create change.
Length: 8m : 55s
Professor Jennie Hudson, researcher at the Centre for Emotional Health in the Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, focusses on the prevention and treatment of children’s emotional health problems using cognitive behavioural therapy. She makes the link between a risk averse society and what that means for children’s abilities to face their fears. Prof. Hudson explains why making mistakes are inevitable but their power to create a courageous coping model are so important. Hear why parents are asked to encourage their children to perform little acts of bravery, often.
Length: 17m : 44s
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service teamed up with The Nature School to pilot a series of holiday activities in the rainforest. See how the bush school concept is reconnecting families and nurturing children’s respect for nature.
Length: 2m : 19s
A short clip with inspiring imagery of Bush School students in Centennial Parklands, Sydney.
Length: 1m : 40s
Find out how Thiele Primary School students explore hands-on learning at their local creek in partnership with their local Council and NRM Board
Length: 4m : 40s
The Mclaren Vale township is home to Madge Sexton Kindergarten, one of the first five sites to be built as part of the Preschool Outdoor Learning Project, during 2014/15. Teachers and community liaison officers share how this has enriched their local area and enabled unexpected variations in their children’s’ play.
Length: 10m : 05s
Melbourne’s Nature Play was named best playground of 2016 by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. Built on the site of the former Nurses’ station around the corner from the Royal Childrens’ hospital, the playground’s design reflects the seven seasons described by the Wurundjeri people, traditional owners of the area. Each zone includes a design element or native indicator of these seasons like the silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) which blooms when transitioning from the wombat season (winter) to the orchid season (spring). The playground features sand and water play, rocky inclines, swings and slides nestled amongst thousands of new plantings overlooked by an enormous hill giving expansive views of the grounds and city beyond.
Length: 6m : 08s