Bush Kinder

At Balcombe Pre-School, we promote children’s interactions with the natural world and encourage them to respect and take an active role in caring for the environment around them. In Terms Two and Three, one afternoon a week, we enjoy exploring our local environment through our weekly Bush Kinder Outings.  These outings take place in the Reserve opposite Balcombe Pre-School (adjacent to Hopetoun Creek), extending to Hopetoun Norfolk Flora and Fauna Reserve. We may also walk up to Mace Oval to participate in some sporting activities to mix things up! Each child is provided with a pair of waterproof overalls to wear, but families must ensure their child brings;- a pair of sturdy gumboots, spare clothes (including socks and a pair of shoes to change into upon our return to Pre-School and a waterproof bag for wet/dirty clothes.

 During such visits, we encourage and support the children in our Four Year Old program to;-

• build a greater awareness and appreciation of their local environment (developing their community awareness, knowledge and involvement whilst doing so)

• develop, maintain and improve their physical health and wellbeing

• take an active role in their learning as they make new discoveries

• develop their ability to assess and take risks

• build resilience and learn to self-regulate their behaviour

• develop empathy and strong, respectful relationships with others

• recognize the impact humans have on the environment (both positive and negative) and to develop sustainable practices

Risky Play

Bush Kinder sessions can also facilitate a component of Risky Play. The recent Risky Play Position Statement for Young Australian Children explains and advocates the importance of this type of play…

“Young children naturally seek risk in their play, they are curious and want to be challenged as their capabilities develop over time. Risky play invites young children to learn about oneself, others or the immediate context across a range of developmental domains including social, cognitive, language, physical and emotional. Children can learn to capably manage risk in their environments and build their own risk literacies through risky play experiences. Children learning to self-manage risk during play may demonstrate perseverance, resilience, critical thinking, agency, problem solving and/or a sense of achievement. Risky play is integral to life-long learning and promotes capable and confident adults”

Indigenous Culture

Prior to commencing our weekly outings, the children will have the opportunity to participate in an educational program with not-for-profit organization Living Culture. As Living Culture explain;- "Our mission is to educate people about the importance of keeping Aboriginal culture alive. Indigenous knowledge is a living link to the past, present and future”

As part of the Victorian Early Learning Developmental Framework, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander culture is embedded within Balcombe Preschool’s program in everyday practice such as posters, puzzles, books, games, puppets, fabrics, songs etc. This commitment was acknowledged in our most recent Assessment and Rating Summary which stated…

The service sought to collaborate closely with the community to develop a rich, authentic cultural learning environment that represented the backgrounds of the broader community, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A key focus of the program was fostering children's connection to the land by engaging them directly with the surrounding bushland, encouraging a deeper appreciation and understanding of Indigenous cultures and the natural environment.