EP 13 | Nature Play + Regulation in the Outdoors
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
Release Date: 08/12/2024
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode I speak with Lisa Burman - an author, speaker, professional learning facilitator and every-day researcher of childhood and learning. Lisa has strong roots in true early childhood pedagogy whose work is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and guided by honouring children’s rights. This discussion is a deep exploration of early childhood values and principles. Lisa and I discuss: 🌸 What is meant by a ‘culture of agency.’ 🌸 Shared power and democratic classrooms. 🌸 Common misconceptions of agency (hint: it’s not something that we ‘give’...
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info_outline EP 13 | Nature Play + Regulation in the OutdoorsThe Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode, I speak with Cath Fitzhardinge, an OT who is a strong advocate of nature play and children spending time outdoors so much so that she is currently completing a Masters of Philosophy (Arts & Sciences) at Notre Dame University Australia where she is researching play opportunities and the utilization of an intentionally designed nature play space in a primary school to support children’s health, wellbeing and learning. Cath and I discuss: 🌸 What nature play, messy play and sensory mean for children's well-being. 🌸 How nature play benefits sensory...
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On today’s episode, I speak with Michaelene Kearney from The Teachers OT about an incredibly powerful and transformational lens that we can adopt when it comes to supporting children’s behaviour - the sensory processing lens. Michaelene shares so much of her wisdom with us around not only what sensory processing is but the many ways that it can impact behaviour. Michaelene and I discuss: 🌸What is the role of an Occupational Therapist? 🌸The three step framework that is sensory processing. 🌸The difference between understanding versus judgement when it comes to...
info_outlineOn today’s episode, I speak with Cath Fitzhardinge, an OT who is a strong advocate of nature play and children spending time outdoors so much so that she is currently completing a Masters of Philosophy (Arts & Sciences) at Notre Dame University Australia where she is researching play opportunities and the utilization of an intentionally designed nature play space in a primary school to support children’s health, wellbeing and learning.
Cath and I discuss:
🌸 What nature play, messy play and sensory mean for children's well-being.
🌸 How nature play benefits sensory integration and regulation.
🌸 Low-cost options for providing nature play experiences.
🌸 Is there a difference in play quality on traditional playgrounds compared to nature play settings?
🌸 Moving past perceived constraints for getting outside and looking for those pockets of opportunity.
🌸 Considering the critical role of accessibility for play spaces.
Here are the resources shared in our discussion:
Take a peak at the amazing play space Cath has created in her front yard.
Download her booklet - How Nature Play Spaces Promote Positive Child Development
Cath is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience working in rural, remote, and urban settings. She understands that meaningful access to nature is essential for humans to thrive and critical to health and well-being. Cath supports children, families, and organizations to embrace nature connection, health, and well-being through meaningful occupation (e.g. nature play) to foster resilience, confidence, curiosity, and kindness.
Having grown up in small West Australian country towns, Cath deeply values the richness and connection that being, and playing outdoors brings to children, particularly to those living in busy urban environments. Cath shares this passion with her children, their friends, and all the children and families she works with, and is so grateful to be living, playing, and learning on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja (Perth, WA).
Connect with Cath:
💫 Send her an email: [email protected]
💫 Find her on Instagram: @cathfitz_ot
💫 Visit her website: Cath Fitz OT
Join the Little Bloom community:
💫 Download my free (yep, free!) video series exploring emotional competence in early childhood.
💫 Send me an email: [email protected]
💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy
💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See
💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy