Indigenous Perspectives for Nature Play Week
Nature Play Week 2024 has arrived! What a beautiful platform this week provides for the inclusion of First Nations perspectives. Nature Play Week celebrates initiatives of all shapes and sizes that reconnect children with nature and the outdoors. It’s links perfectly to Connecting and Caring to Country!
What is "Caring for Country"?
“Country” encompasses an interdependent relationship between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands and seas. It is multi-dimensional — it consists of people, animals, plants, Dreamings; soils, minerals and waters, air....everything.
“Caring for country” is our custodial responsibility to the world around us and it promotes ecological, spiritual and human health.
Today, Aboriginal people participate in caring for Country practices in many different ways, e.g. border protection, biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, quarantine services, water resource management, fire management, sustainable commercial use of wildlife, control of invasive weeds and feral animals and cultural maintenance activities.
Nature play is a term used to describe the creation of simple play opportunities in the natural environment.
Ideas:
Why not use this week to explore some traditional Indigenous games? Yulunga Traditional Indigenous Games is a fabulous resource available freely online that contains a selection of games and activities from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies all around Australia.
It offers a chance to learn about, appreciate, and experience facets of Indigenous culture, and every activity is suitable for children and adults of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. This resource celebrates all aspects of outdoor play.
There are also several First Nations businesses that run incursions around traditional games you may like to connect with. Head to the Supply Nation website to start your search.
Plus, don’t forget to check out our free Ochre Dough x Riley Callie Resources Nature Play Week Idea Download
We just love the play ideas from Ochre Dough! They’re all about using natural materials in playdough playime! Think gum nuts, banksia pods, seeds, flowers etc! Their native bush food infused play dough mixes smell divine and offer the ultimate Australian sensory experience for your little ones!
Another great resource for this week is our IndigiSTEM Caring for Country book - The IndigiSTEM – Caring for Country Workbook provides instructions for 10 outdoor STEM play-based activities for early learners, each with an Indigenous context.
Each activity includes Teaching Notes to draw upon and easily incorporate information about Indigenous culture into your learning session.
Remember, Nature Play Week runs till April 18, so there is no better time to get outdoors and connect to Country with your kids!