YMCA Victoria - Bush Kinder
Program Details | |
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Overview | A program run in a large contained area of natural bushland that is purposely set up for kindergarten children to visit and play freely. |
Deliverers | YMCA staff, kindergarten teachers, volunteer parent helpers |
Training and Resources | YMCA staff worked with kindergarten teachers to discuss program ethos and desired outcomes. Volunteer parent helpers received an introduction and safety briefing before each session. |
Duration | 5 x 5 hour visits (1 per fortnight) |
Participant Details | |
Age | 3 - 4 years |
Description | Children who attend a local kindergarten |
“We’re seeing children use sticks and things as drawing instruments. Building huts, measuring sticks and learning about heavy and light, all those sorts of concepts. And collecting natural life articles and items, making patterns, children were loving doing that. They really were interested in the ants, birds, and wildlife. We did a project on ants and found out more about them.” (Kindergarten teacher)
Physical literacy outcomes
YMCA Victoria - Bush Kinder helped children develop across all four domains of physical literacy – physical, psychological, social and cognitive.
Key findings
“Some of them were a little bit nervous about climbing trees to start off with. Obviously, they’ve never climbed a tree before or never had that opportunity. So they stay off the ground saying ‘I’m stuck! I’m stuck!’ As we went on, their confidence built.” (Kindergarten teacher)
SOCIAL