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Little Kiwis Bush School
Ōtautahi

What is BUSH SCHOOL

Inspired by the Scandinavian Forest Kindergarten movement, and the more recent one day nature schools in Aotearoa, bush school is a holistic approach to education believing children are capable and competent learners. Bush School provides real life experiences exploring and playing in nature where the child is at the centre of the environment. A place they build resilience, develop social skills, fine and gross motor skills, develop independence in a supportive environment and strengthen their connection to te taiao.

Our Bush School is currently run alongside parents. This means that parents come with their child for the whole session.  THIS IS NOT A DROP OFF SESSION. Most whanau that attend are homeschool families or families who are starting school later. We also have families who are taking their children out of school for a day a week to come and attend Bush School. We really appreciate how special this time is for families. It’s so nice to be present with your children and enjoy the magic of childhood in nature! 

One of the reasons that this is not a drop off session is because these sessions are not funded by the government so it is a user pays group. This means that if parents were to drop their children off then they would be paying a much higher price per session. While that suits some families, I want these sessions to be more affordable.

WHY IS IT SO BENEFICIAL?

Research shows us there are many benefits to connecting our tamariki with nature.  It can support multiple developmental domains including intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual and physical.  It develops problem solving abilities, self belief, it enhances cognitive skills and improves academic performance.   It also increases physical activity, can improve nutrition, eyesight, social relations, self-discipline and reduce stress. Daily contact with nature can show many positive impacts. In addition, human beings were designed to play and be connected to nature, it is innate and this need is often not honored in a school environment.

Little kiwis philosophy & VALUES

Nature Connection

The philosophy behind all our nature play sessions is around child led play in nature, with nature and through nature.  This means that children choose what they want to do and how they want to do it.  The main focus is about using the natural environment and exploring it at their own pace.  There are opportunities to explore, climb trees, forage (seasonal), get dirty, play on the forts and tree swings…and much more! We also provide outdoor play and loose parts opportunities that help enhance the space and provide some familiarity to children in a new space. 

Child led Free Play

We follow a child led free play philosophy which allows children to follow their play urges and explore when and how they want. Nature provides real life experiences where children can explore and play at their own pace in nature and where the child is at the centre of the experience.

We encourage children to take turns rather than share. A child can wait till another child has finished with something before they get a turn. If they want to negotiate their turn that is great. But ultimately a child should be able to choose when they are ready to move on not be told.

Risky Play

Risky play is an important part of a child’s development. At little kiwis Nature Play children are provided will opportunities to engage in risky play. It is wonderful to allow children to experiment with risky play in a supervised environment rather than later on in life where there might not be any guidance.

Risky play helps develop problem solving skills, risk management, self confidence and helps builds resilience. It is a wonderful skill that transfers to other areas of life.

If your child comes home with some cuts, bumps or bruises, please know they have had a wonderful day and that it is a normal part of nature play. In fact, we expect it! We call them learning injuries and there is a difference between learning injuries and life altering injuries.

Resilience

We encourage children to do things for themselves. This can be frustrating for some children. The reason behind it is to help build resilience, problem solving and perseverance. If we help a child do something, then they become dependent on someone else to do that task. If they are given the opportunity to get frustrated, try and try again, problem solve; they may just figure it out all by themselves. They may not too. And that is ok. There is a saying ‘Every climb has it’s time, which need not be today.’ We support children in these feelings where needed.

Whangaungatanga

Relationships are so important and are the foundation to everything that we do. We feel that when relationships are strong children feel more secure in themselves and when exploring the environment. We put great value on going at the child’s pace as all children are unique and will build relationships at different paces. Social skills develop through relationships.

These relationships are with people, life and the world. Allowing time for relationships to build through warmth, love and kindness in our natural environment.

Mana Atua

We provide an environment that is peaceful, slow paced, calm and happy. Nature helps us to feel healthy, happy, purposeful and socially connected. With lives being so busy and over scheduled, being able to find time to support our Mana Atua (well-being) is treasured.

 

HOW IT WORKS – THE DETAILS

Sessions run on a Friday, 7-8 weeks of the term.

 FROM 10am – 2pm.

Tamariki can arrive between 9.30-10am. Our opening hui starts at 10am with a karakia, welcome / introductions and we go over the days risk management and opportunities for play. To support social development and relationships within the group, a game or short group activity will be played and then children go off and choose what play that want to do.

On each session there is opportunity for tamariki and whānau to develop new skills. Your facilitator will share during the hui what other options are available. This could be whittling, hut building, gardening, nature crafts, fire, construction and more. As always everything is optional, nothing is compulsary.

We have a rolling kai and there is a nice place in the sun where parents often sit with their tamariki.  We are a community when it comes to looking after the children, we run with the ‘It takes a village’ ethos.  At the end of the sessions we start packing up around 1.30pm and then we have a check in with the tamariki to reflect on the days adventures, maybe a short game and say farewell till next time.

CURRICULUM:

At our Bush School, we embrace a dynamic and nature-based curriculum designed to engage students in hands-on learning experiences throughout the seasons. Our program emphasises skill development leading to mastery through a variety of enriching offerings, for example gardening projects that teach students about composting, soil health, and the fascinating world of worms. Students have the option of getting creative with construction, allowing them to explore creativity and use teamwork in a supportive environment. We incorporate cultural celebrations that honor diversity and community spirit, and our curriculum includes crafting, weaving, and mindfulness practices such as breathwork to enhance focus and well-being. Engaging in risky play encourages resilience and confidence, making every day a vibrant exploration of the natural world and the skills necessary for lifelong learning. The key element of our curriculum is that it is child-led meaning, adults are there for support, but children choose what they want to do. Nothing is compulsary. 

ROLE OF PARENT:

We really value the role of parents in our program. Our bush kindy has parents involved and we bring that into our bush school too. A parents role in our sessions depends on the needs of the child but at a foundation level it is for safety but not for interfering with children’s play. Some tamariki will need a parent close by for them to feel or be safe, and other children will head off wild and free and you won’t see them till the end of the session, or when they are hungry.

As our philosophy is founded on tamariki needing more autonomy in their play, a parents role when they are playing is to step back, observe more, notice more and enjoy watching their young person solving problems, growing friendships, taking risks, struggling with certain skills, over coming challenges and being free to be who they innately are. At other times parents will be alongside their child when learning new skills or doing collaborate projects for example our gardening program, crafting of cooking on the ahi (fire). 

Our facilitators are there to support both tamariki and whanau and for the parents it is often about how to step back and support them while not interfering with their play. Our facilitators will gently have conversations with you if needed, to help you to support and grow your resilient child.

AGE:

5 – 12years old

COSTS: 

$220 per child per term.

NB Younger siblings of paying child (2 – 4 years old) pay a small fee of $80 for the term to attend alongside. Under 2 years old are free. 

LOCATION:

Cowlishaw Street, Avonside, Christchurch.

 

WHAT TO BRING:

WINTER: Warm clothes (thermals or wool next to skin), jacket, hat, gloves, gumboots maybe required on the wetter days / dew days, over trousers are useful, spare clothes are a bonus, picnic blanket to sit in the sun, morning kai.

SUMMER: Hats, sunscreen, shoes or sandals, clothes that protect from the sun and layers as our site can have a cool wind, morning kai. Insect repellent can be helpful in summer.

 

Photos: Header by Stephanie Defregger, others by Celia Hogan

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