Encouraging children to take risks, develop and fine-tune gross motor skills and foster a love of nature are the aims of the latest outdoor upgrade at Goodstart Early Learning, Huntingdale. …

Encouraging children to take risks, develop and fine-tune gross motor skills and foster a love of nature are the aims of the latest outdoor upgrade at Goodstart Early Learning, Huntingdale.

Being outdoors and engaging in natural experiences are essential in teaching children to explore and take on challenges that may test their skills – such as running, jumping and skipping – and even helps them problem solve and care for the environment.

Goodstart Huntingdale’s outdoor spaces underwent a $150,000 upgrade which focuses on natural features include timber climbing frames, water play areas and lots of trees.

Nature Based Play was engaged to assist in the design which drew on feedback from the children, families and educators. The upgrade took five and a half weeks to complete and was officially opened in October 2018.