Use of Sustainable Materials in Arts Programming for Children

"Young children explore their globe with all of their senses, through easily on experiences they come across their evolving creations, the colours, the patterns, they feel the textures of the materials; the soft petals, the rough bark, smooth stones, and smell the fragrant leaves and flowers." – NaturePlay Qld

Many contemporary theories in Early Babyhood Pedagogy recognise and value the surroundings as a "3rd teacher" in supporting children's learning. The physical environment is critical to contributing to children's wellbeing, creativity and developing independence, providing a diverse range of experiences that promote children's learning and development.

Educators volition intentionally create, change and mould learning environments that spark children's interest in ways that foster connections, encourage social play, back up children'south agency and invite children to delve deeper, investigate and larn through a range of mediums.

Photo: investigating insects and bugs at Busy Bees at Maroochydore  (QLD)

Natural resource, with their complexity in shapes, textures and colours, are a perfect medium for use in loose parts play as they provide then many possibilities for discovery, inventiveness and creativity.   Magic happens when children engage in loose parts play with natural resources. This blazon of play is open-ended, allowing children to decide the purpose of an item, rather than and adult or manufacturer. This may be as simple as using a cake of wood as a phone, buttons every bit money, or shells as fairy treasure. Children are empowered creatively with the presence of open up-ended materials that could be synthetic, manipulated and transformed through self-directed play. (Steve Watts, The Importance of Loose Parts Play)

The benefits of using natural resource in children's play include:

• Creativity – Natural materials stimulate creativity and imagination by providing children with open up-ended play experiences
• Sensory exploration – Children can explore natural materials with all of their senses, e.g. feeling the texture of the pinecone, smelling a bloom, observing all the unlike colours and textures that are abundant in nature
• Environmental Awareness – Engaging with natural resources supports children to care for natural environments and develop respect for living things. Using flowers, shells, stones, fabric, baskets, art prints and other materials in the curriculum helps children to learn to capeesh natural beauty. (Quality Surface area iii | The Environment as the 3rd Instructor)
• Imagination and problem solving – Natural resource have infinite uses in supporting children's trouble solving, scientific inquiry and numeracy skills. For instance, children can group them by size, shape or colour, employ textures to create stamps on paper, count how many of each particular they have, explore which items sink and bladder in water etc.
• Resourcefulness – Natural resources permit children to exist resourceful and sustainable through finding means to recycle, re-use and repurpose items in their play. This provides opportunities for children to problem solve and be creative in ways that develop their respect for the surround and thoughtful use of limited natural resources and sustainability (Quality Area three | The Environs equally the Tertiary Teacher)

Photograph: the children at Busy Bees at Williams Landing  (VIC) employ natural resources to explore numeracy

At Busy Bees, our Services provide many opportunities for children to engage in loose parts play with natural resources. Our Educators create inclusive and engaging natural learning environments, both indoors and outdoors, that inspire children to explore, create, play together and ignite their imaginations and sense of discovery.

We do this in a number of means, including:

• The inclusion of natural materials in play
• Loose parts play
• Engaging in natural environments
• Access to natural and living things
• Caring for animals within the service
• Bush Kinder programs

Want to know how your nearest Decorated Bees Service supports children'southward environmental education? Speak to your Service manager or find your nearest location  to enquire.

Sources:

https://natureplayqld.org.au/acecqa-nature-play-and-bush-kindy-resources

https://blog.optimus-education.com/using-natural-materials-raise-children%27s-learning

woodruffcorsome.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.busybees.edu.au/the-benefits-of-using-natural-resources-in-childrens-play/