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Connecting our Kids to Nature

This was the theme of a recent Perth conference. The Kidsafe Playground Conference – The Nature of Play, held at the Subiaco Arts Centre 19-20 April, 2010 provided a unique opportunity for delegates from a range of very diverse fields and professions to learn about connecting kids with nature and many other topics related to providing quality outside play and learning experiences for children in our parks, playgrounds and play spaces.

The Western Australian Minister for Community Services, the Hon Robyn McSweeney, opened the conference, sharing some of her childhood memories of playing and exploring the natural wonders of Bridgetown and acknowledging the important part well-designed and maintained parks and playgrounds play in making our local communities child and family friendly. The Minister also introduced a short film the Department for Communities commissioned especially for the conference, showing WA children articulating their views about playgrounds and playing outside, which kept the voices and opinions of children fresh in the minds of delegates. The conference was an excellent prelude to the free public lecture presented by the WA Department of Sport and Recreation An Evening with Richard Louv and the launch of their Nature Play WA website.

Some delegates felt that a Kidsafe Conference would focus only on playground safety issues not expecting such a strong emphasis on providing challenge and connecting kids with nature. For members of the Kidsafe WA team these topics are not so disconnected. As Kidsafe WA’s CEO Sue Wicks explains “Keeping children safe from serious playground injury should not mean eliminating fun, challenge and opportunities to play in natural settings. Kidsafe strongly believes that well-designed natural play spaces can offer children plenty of fun, challenge and learning and keep them safe from serious injury.”

Similarly, anecdotal evidence suggests that children’s playground injuries are sometimes a result of fixed standardised equipment being used in ‘inappropriate’ ways by children, typically when they tire of playing the way the designer intended. Children learn about their world and their own physical capabilities through play and exploration of their environment. Importantly, as children practice and attain new skills, they will look to tackle new challenges to acquire new skills. Playgrounds that children visit regularly that have only fixed manufactured equipment might not provide opportunities for children’s ongoing learning and development and lead to an increase inappropriate use or injuries.

Another important lesson highlighted at the conference was that playgrounds do not only provide opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. They can also support children to stretch their imaginations and practice their social and communication skills. Well-designed natural playgrounds can also foster their engagement with the natural world and play a part in teaching children important science and maths principles.

It is not often that child care and education professionals and local government parks and gardens personnel get to participate in the same event. The fact that the conference attracted delegates from such diverse groups acknowledges the value of quality parks and playgrounds to all members of our society.

To access some of the presentations from the Conference you can visitor www.kidsafewa.com.au/playgroundconference or for information about Kidsafe WA’s Playground Advisory Service, you can call 08 9340 8939 or visit www.kidsafewa.com.au/playgrounds.

Kidsafe WA

Perth, Western

Australia

6 May 2010