Reclaiming Play, Reclaiming Childhood
– Lucy Murrell, Abundant Education
Play and early childhood education are synonymous. There is no early childhood education without play. Yet, after visiting many centres over the years, it is clear that play remains a complex concept for many educators to embed in their pedagogy.
So why is it that play, in all its simplicity, is such a complex component to grasp? Research would suggest that this is because, no matter how much theory we learn through our studies about best practice through play, educators will always go back to what they have experienced both as a child and as a new educator watching experienced educators for guidance.
This session will deconstruct play and give educators basic play principles to move forward with. Through interactive play experiences educators will be challenged to create, express, think, hypothesise and communicate – reclaiming their childhood and experiencing play in its purest form. From this experience educators will then be invited to decide how they can undo their understanding of play and reclaim play for the children in their care.
Playing with Plants: Creativity and Connection through Natural Materials
– Daniel Burton, Educated by Nature
Children are naturally curious about the world around them, but in our modern world, many young people have lost the opportunity, and the motivation, to explore nature.
In this workshop, we explore how fallen leaves, bark, sticks, seeds and pods can become powerful tools for play and learning. These often-overlooked materials can spark imagination, creativity, and connection when presented with care and intention.
We’ll begin by sorting and classifying a variety of plant materials in different ways, an experience that encourages both creative and mathematical thinking. We’ll explore how the way we display these items can add value and invite children (and adults) to see them with fresh eyes. In small groups, we’ll create simple play provocations using plant materials, arranged to invite open-ended exploration. These set-ups will be guided by research on how children play and learn, encouraging sensory discovery, oral communication, and a deeper relationship with the plants in our environment.
This workshop invites new thinking about where we source materials for children’s play, and how we can design and select vegetation to support rich learning experiences in child-friendly environments.
Observing Outdoor Play in Action: A practical workshop introducing the Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO)
– Cath Fitzhardinge, Cath Fitz OT
Play is the primary occupation through which children develop and learn; and outdoor play, in natural environments, offers a wealth of opportunities for children to develop physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills. Across Australia, schools, early learning centres and indeed, local councils are increasingly incorporating intentionally designed nature play spaces (IDNPS) to strengthen children’s connection to nature, and to spark their curiosity, creativity and imagination. However, there is limited contextual evidence regarding how these nature play spaces are being utilised in primary school and early learning settings to support child development, wellbeing and learning outcomes.
Occupational Therapist and Post-graduate Researcher, Cath Fitzhardinge examines the outdoor play environment as a central element in offering children with diverse needs the opportunity to engage in freely chosen play that is also deeply beneficial to their development, wellbeing, and learning. Cath will present aspects of her multidisciplinary exploration of outdoor play spaces, and share practical applications, including the use of the Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (Loebach & Cox, 2020), to support the creation and provision of thoughtfully designed and utilised play spaces.
Rather than viewing outdoor play spaces as passive backdrops, participants will be encouraged to explore how their own outdoor environments can be more intentionally designed and offered to children in early learning settings, and utilised to foster children’s playful connection to nature, to each other and to themselves.
Please note: Ideally this workshop will be presented with access to an outdoor green space, where participants will be encouraged to be playful, and observe each other’s play, using the Tool for Observing Play Outdoors. Providing an interactive opportunity for participants to familiarise themselves with the tool, and consider how they might apply it in their settings. Also, participants who are interested in learning more about play mapping can be directed to the Child Australia’s Sector Development webcast “Play mapping in ECEC” that is currently being edited by Amanda Page, Child Australia’s Online Learning Specialist.
Get to know the Speakers
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Lucy Murrell is a consultant, teacher and author with over 15 years experience in early childhood education. She has taught in Brisbane, Sydney, Forster and London giving her a breadth of experience in both early childhood and school based settings.
Lucy has a Master of Education (Early Years) and focused on children’s rights in education through her studies. Lucy is an early childhood consultant with her company, Abundant Education, using her vast experience to support educators.
She is the author of the children’s book, My Inner Light. Lucy has a passion for play, children’s rights and teachers as researchers that has shaped her pedagogy both as a teacher and a consultant in early childhood education.
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Daniel is the co-founder of Educated by Nature (established 2014), a qualified primary school teacher, an education consultant and passionate nature connection mentor.
He considers himself an advocate for connecting children with the natural world, following children’s inbuilt sense of wonder and curiosity as the vehicle to inspire the process of inquiry-based learning.
Through 10 years of project-based teaching at Bold Park Community School, he has had experience developing, managing and coordinating outdoor classrooms and Wild Spaces with various age groups encouraging learning through play. He is passionate about empowering children and providing authentic opportunities for them to grow mentally, physically, socially and emotionally.
Daniel builds this connection through Educated by Nature programs and as a Rites of Passage facilitator. Daniel has presented at conferences focused on nature-based education both locally and internationally.
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Cath, an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years’ experience, collaborates with Landscape Architects, Architects, Schools, Early Learning Centres, and Local Councils in the creation and activation of outdoor play spaces.
Cath advocates for children (and adults) to have access to nature, and to embed nature into their everyday lives. Cath is a member of Learning Environments Australasia (WA) postgraduate research community, and is set to complete a Masters of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame Australia in late 2025.
Cath’s research project “The changing nature of outdoor play spaces in West Australian primary schools: An exploratory case study.” explores the play opportunities, design and utilisation of an intentionally designed nature play space to provide opportunities for child development, wellbeing and learning.
Cath has recently worked with Child Australia’s Online Learning Specialist, Amanda Page in creating a Play Mapping in ECEC webcast.