Playful By Nature

06/06/2026

It's Official!
Our famous Winter Holiday Sessions are open for you :)
Tell your friends, find your cousins, call the crew, see you there!
Fire & Fun.
Mailing list has had early access as normal so some spots are gone already!
www.playfulbynature.com.au/schoolholidayprogram

05/06/2026

Imagine the world you want to create, and do that.
You.
Create it.
Take the first step.
Then another.
This is why Playful By Nature exists.

World Environment Day 2026. What step/s can you take today?

03/06/2026

Before vs After.

We aim to be open ended as much as possible.

Process over product. Maximised.

Photo 1 was a bug hotel. Does it really look like one? Who cares! They created it. Their way. That's the point.

The natural potions table before and after one day, and often items get carted around to other areas to merge into other stations. That's the point! Don't get me started on picture perfect sessions for the adult's sake deep down. Kids don't care about pretty at this age.

The cubby in the photo was entirely child directed. The box started on the ground, full. Some stuff failed as it went up. It took ages. That's the point. Adults acted as apprentices to the kids.

29/05/2026

Involved at a school?

Get your school leaders on board and contact Chrissie early next week, and you might be up for a special freebie to mark International Day of Play.

Let's make a plan together.
Together we can make real difference.

Inspired by our colleagues in the UK ..

On June 11 Play Australia is
asking schools and childrens services to commemorate the UN Day of Play by allowing an extra 31 minutes of play in the day!

Protect Play, Protect Childhood

Tag schools who need to know this!

28/05/2026

A bunch of Early Childhood Teachers braved the weather this week for Training with Playful By Nature!

Do you use Social Stories with children? Social Stories promote, discussion, ease anxiety and help children prepare for something coming up, showing photos and chatting through what to expect. Helping children prepare for change is always a good thing.

We provide a Social Story for any Kindy excursions booked with us, tailored to your mode of transport, activities and location choice. We also had a well photographed example onsite for training this week, which was going back to the classroom to teach Early Childhood students about. But you can make your own for anything that is different to their norm.

Social stories help EVERY child, not just neurodivergent or anxious children.

Follow us for more hints or book your excursion soon (or tell your kids' centre about us). Some dates remaining for 2026.

21/05/2026

We love excursions.
Getting kids outdoors is actually easy. Getting prepared with the right skills and paperwork, that's where we come in.
Educator Training starting soon!
Message or email us to express your interest now 😊
[email protected]

18/05/2026

Grant ALERT for Early Years Services!

Let's collaborate for Article 31- Childrens' Right to PLAY!

If you are an ECEC and haven't applied for this grant yet, let's chat today about collaboration that doesn't cost you money- applications close this weekend.

Let's get your kids (and adults) familiar with the UN Rights of the Child AND promote quality PLAY with Playful By Nature.

Apply for grants up to $500 to support Early Childhood Education projects that promote children's rights in Queensland. Engage families and communities in meaningful conversations.

14/05/2026

How long does your Playgroup session run for?

It takes up to an hour for children to get into the state of free, creative, unstructured play. They need to be first comfortable, and then given time, space and permission to play.

THEN we adults need to ensure we're not interrupting. Because THIS is where the magic lies, in brain development, synapses and cognition.

This is one of the many reasons our sessions are longer than many other providers (and why we often don't pack up on time...). We value play in it's purest form, and this takes time.

We allow time for REAL open-ended play.
It's not always 'pretty'.
It's certainly not classified 'insta-worthy'.
But it's the best for our kids.
With less adult agenda.

Can you do the same in your setting?

One of my children was always hesitant/shy. The kid who took 'ages' to feel comfortable. So I know first hand about leaving when it seems they really only just started playing.

We built this for a reason.
We know kids.
We know play.
We know nature.

10/05/2026

Let's Talk LOOSE PARTS!

We use our trailer (nicknamed 'Trixie') full of Loose Parts in sessions such as OSHC, Holiday Sessions, Bush Kindy and in Kindy Incursions.

But did you know it's available to Hire? (we know, it's not on our website yet...still). Contact [email protected] to book.

For today, comment below with what items you think your child/children would love at the moment.

For us at home, it's the tyres (for rolling with speed of course), closely followed by the smaller cable reels!