By: Sue Elliott (Editor)

Paperback

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This publication will challenge your perceptions about early childhood outdoor playspaces and inspire change!

The Outdoor Playspace Naturally arose from concerns shared by the editor and contributing authors about childrens playspaces in early childhood services in Australia. It reveals their concerns and offers guidance and information to early childhood educators, centre co-ordinators, management committees, designers and all those involved in the provision of early childhood services.

We can do better for children than quick fix, generic and synthetic playspaces and this publication provides the foundation for creating natural, dynamic and engaging playspaces. At its heart, the creation of a natural playspace is a collaborative venture between children, parents and staff that is locally vital and evolves over time. The inspiring photographs and case studies well illustrate the potential.

The authors of this publication are committed to change - change that will improve childrens outdoor play opportunities, health, well being, connections with nature and promote education for sustainability.

About the editor

Sue Elliott (Dip KTC, B Sc Hons, MSc) has worked in a variety of early childhood settings and lectures at the tertiary level in early childhood training courses. She shares a passion for environmental education and science education in teaching. Sue is co-author of several books including Snails Live in Houses Too, Environmental Education for the Early Years and Just Discover! Connecting Young Children with the Natural Worldand author of Patches of Green, the first review of early childhood environmental education in Australia. Currently, Sue lectures at RMIT and convenes the Australian Association of Environmental Education Early Childhood Special Interest Group.

Contributing authors include; Barbara Champion, Julie Davis, Sue Elliott, Michelle Hocking, Mary Jeavons, Ric McConaghy, Kerry Rogers, Joanne Sorensen, Sue Vaealiki and TracyYoung.

Preface

Author Profiles

Introduction: Why natural outdoor playspaces?
Sue Elliott and Julie Davis

Chapter 1: Designing natural playspaces: principles
Ric McConaghy

Chapter 2: Designing natural playspaces: processes
Ric McConaghy

Chapter 3: Creating specific features to foster nature connections
Tracy Young

Chapter 4: How do natural playspaces meet developmental needs and interests?
Kerry Rogers

Chapter 5: Standards and stones
Barbara Champion

Chapter 6: Making natural playspaces more accessible to children with disabilities
Mary Jeavons

Chapter 7: Planning for children in natural playspaces
Michelle Hocking

Chapter 8: Early childhood centre case studies from Australia
Sue Elliott

Introduction
Campus Kindy QLD
Clovelly Child Care Centre NSW
Clunes Preschool NSW
Coburg Childrens Centre Vic
Doncaster Kindergarten Vic
East Bairnsdale Early Learning Centre Vic
Kinma Preschool NSW
Princes Hill Kindergarten Vic
St Kilda and Balaclava Kindergarten Vic
Terrigal Child Care Centre NSW
Yirrkala Dhanbul Child Care
Preschool Centre NT

Chapter 9: International perspectives on natural playspaces

Introduction
The Danish Connection: Den Intergrerede
Institution Havens, Arhus, Denmark
Joanne Sorensen

Weaving our culture, social and environmental identity into outdoor playspaces: some thoughts from New Zealand
Sue Vaealiki

Learning through Landscapes UK
Tracy Young

Conclusion

References and resources

ISBN: 9781876138271
ISBN-10: 1876138270
Audience: Tertiary; University or College
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 224
Published: November 2007
Publisher: Pademelon Press Pty, Limited
Dimensions (cm): 27.0 x 19.0