Please note that none of the items I talk about in here are sponsored, they are my own opinions and the Kindergarten or I do not receive any compensation for mentioning them in my blog.
All images are sourced from the internet and sources stated.
All images are sourced from the internet and sources stated.
In 2016 my Kindergarten decided to continue with the Bush Kinder program that I assisted in piloting in 2015. This was so exciting for me because I feel such a sense of connection to the natural environment and exploring what it has to offer us. For those who are unsure or wondering how our Bush Kinder operates I will go through a few finer points for you here! If you are getting a Bush Kinder started or thinking about getting one started post a comment with any questions you have so I can assist you in any way possible!!
How did we find our space?
Our space that we use was selected by our committee of management. We use a local Parks Victoria space in which we apply for a permit to use each year. We are able to connect with our community through using this space as there are many active park users. We have also connected with a group of people who care for the park we use and the park will be celebrating 100 years in 2017 and we have been invited to be apart of this celebration!
Who comes to Bush Kinder?
Our four-year-old children have access to our Bush Kinder program for 6 months of the year. As we have two groups of children they each spend 6 months in the space. During the other 6 months they engage in a music program.
We have three Educators that attend the Bush Kinder sessions. Myself as the Early Childhood Teacher and Two Educators to support the program. We only take 22 children but we have three staff so that we are well above ratio to ensure adequate supervision.
We also request that our families join our parent help roster. We prefer 2 parent helpers on each session to assist with supervision and in the case of an evacuation enough adults to assist in moving children throughout the park space.
We have three Educators that attend the Bush Kinder sessions. Myself as the Early Childhood Teacher and Two Educators to support the program. We only take 22 children but we have three staff so that we are well above ratio to ensure adequate supervision.
We also request that our families join our parent help roster. We prefer 2 parent helpers on each session to assist with supervision and in the case of an evacuation enough adults to assist in moving children throughout the park space.
How long are your sessions?
The children attend for three hours per week as part of their funded Kindergarten program.
What types of things do you take with you?
We take a large range of equipment to ensure the safety and well-being of the children. We have two large roller bags that house all our equipment (see below)
We found these to be large enough to keep all our things we needed in as well as durable to be pulled across the terrain in the park space. In our bags we have:
Red Duffle Bag:
- 2 Large Tarps
- Shower Tent (Used to house our camping toilet)
Green Duffle Bag:
- First Aid Kit
- Children's hats
- Towels
- Spare clothes
- Spare wet weather gear
- Magnifying glasses
- Tissues
- Toilet Paper
- Wet wipes
- Evacuation ropes x2
- Small clipboards and pens
We also take a camping toilet as the public toilets are too far from our space to be taking children to use them throughout the session. The toilet is kept in the shower tent during the session to allow the children to have privacy in a public space.
I also take a backpack with essential important information such as:
- Photocopies of children's enrolment forms
- Policies that directly relate to Bush Kinder
- Risk Assessment and Management Paperwork
- Parks Victoria Permit
- Children's medication (epi-pens & ventolin etc.)
- Bush Kinder sign in book
- Signed regular outing permission forms
- 3 Cameras
- Bush Kinder mobile phone
Red Duffle Bag:
- 2 Large Tarps
- Shower Tent (Used to house our camping toilet)
Green Duffle Bag:
- First Aid Kit
- Children's hats
- Towels
- Spare clothes
- Spare wet weather gear
- Magnifying glasses
- Tissues
- Toilet Paper
- Wet wipes
- Evacuation ropes x2
- Small clipboards and pens
We also take a camping toilet as the public toilets are too far from our space to be taking children to use them throughout the session. The toilet is kept in the shower tent during the session to allow the children to have privacy in a public space.
I also take a backpack with essential important information such as:
- Photocopies of children's enrolment forms
- Policies that directly relate to Bush Kinder
- Risk Assessment and Management Paperwork
- Parks Victoria Permit
- Children's medication (epi-pens & ventolin etc.)
- Bush Kinder sign in book
- Signed regular outing permission forms
- 3 Cameras
- Bush Kinder mobile phone
Isn't Bush Kinder no tools or toys?
When we began our Bush Kinder journey in 2015, we had the belief that we would take nothing but essential well-being items for the children as tools and toys were not needed. After 6 months we decided that we needed access to provocation materials for the children to enhance their thinking and learning through the program. We now take a range of things such as:
- Non-fiction books about Birds and Insects
- Magnifying glasses
- Clip boards & pens
- Ropes*
*With our ropes, the children can and will do amazing things with them, sometimes we as adults can only see a very narrow way of doing things. We had an experience this year where a parent on duty made swings for the children using the ropes and then that was all they wanted to do with them. As a result we removed the ropes from the accessible provocations to encourage children to form their own ideas and thinking throughout the program.
- Non-fiction books about Birds and Insects
- Magnifying glasses
- Clip boards & pens
- Ropes*
*With our ropes, the children can and will do amazing things with them, sometimes we as adults can only see a very narrow way of doing things. We had an experience this year where a parent on duty made swings for the children using the ropes and then that was all they wanted to do with them. As a result we removed the ropes from the accessible provocations to encourage children to form their own ideas and thinking throughout the program.
Museum Victoria Field Guide App
This has to be one of my favourite parts of Bush Kinder! The children will find a range of insects, bugs and birds throughout the park and want to know more about them. Rather than giving them slang names we look them up on our app to use proper terminology where possible. The children drive the research through the app as it has lots of visuals to compare what they have seen to. As Educators we then read the information to the children and assist them in drawing their own conclusions such as are they dangerous to us? The MV Field Guide App is available to download for free on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
What Wet Weather gear do we use and recommend?
Prior to our program beginning I did research into waterproof equipment for children that was cost effective and hard wearing. I also wanted them to be sourced from an Australian bussiness to support local to home bussinesses and families. I came across the brand called Muddlarks. All the reviews I had found online spoke highly of the brand and when speaking directly with them I found them fantastic and honest about their product. We would use anything else. We use their lark jacket and lark pant. We have a number of families who already were using their bib-n-brace product and have raved about them! Although they are not recommended for use in the snow, families have also commented on how they have found them wonderful to use during family snow trips too! All of our children have the blue jacket and black pant (pictured below). We have Kinder sets that belong to the Kinder that families can hire or they have the option to buy a set to keep. Many families with multiple children coming through the program select the option to purchase the gear and are certainly getting their money worth!
Click here to visit the MUDDLARKS Website |
That's all for now on Bush Kinder. Stay tuned for part two in the next few days!
Please post your comments or questions below
Please post your comments or questions below