Bush preschool helps Gilgandra children to be imaginative problem solvers

Gilgandra Preschool has seen a significant improvement in the children’s imagination, problem solving and social skills since incorporating bush preschool into its curriculum earlier this year, local news source Gilgandra Weekly has shared. 

Local residents Robyn and Chris Howard have kindly donated part of their property to the preschool so that children and teachers can visit, and be free to play, build, discover, and learn about their surroundings, away from technology and the normal classroom.

Since implementing the program, participating children have improved their confidence and problem solving skills, Director Kristy Hyndes shared with the paper.

“They have to socialise when they’re out here,” Ms Hyndes explained. “Their problem solving and negotiation skills have increased as well, and we hardly ever have to step in for conflict resolution, they just sort themselves out.”

The bush preschool has led to a significant increase in imaginative play, she continued, attributing time in nature, and away from screens, to a rise in children’s creativity. 

“I have seen a huge increase in being able to use objects in imagination, like imaginative play, and being able to replace objects and use them as what they’re not actually intended for.”

When children and educators come to bush preschool the only thing they bring is their lunch. 

“I have noticed a huge increase in respect for the environment, they all now show a massive connection to the land,” Ms Hyndes continued. This respect extends to any animals they encounter. 

“We are entering their home,” she explained. “Therefore, the children follow a strict rule of you leave nothing and you take nothing.”

“The children just love it. They’ll often ask if it’s bush today. It’s them coming in and being able to share the stories with the other children that they especially love. So even the children who aren’t participating in the program are involved because when they come back, they complete a project book,” said Ms Hyndes.

To read the original coverage of this story, please see here.