Episode: 4
Title: Nature Play – the REAL Play Station
Broadcast: 26th September 2015
Presenter: Chris Ferreira

Kids growing up in the modern Perth home may have fancy gadgets and big screens but none of this can give kids the truly exhilarating and utterly indispensible experience of being out in nature. Only regular and rewarding experiences in natural settings can help kids develop the physical, mental and emotional skills and resilience that they will need to cope in the rough, fast and furious modern world they will have to face.

• Start with something as simple as a growbag even if you live 30 storeys off the ground to give your kids a chance to connect with nature.
• Try to incorporate whatever will entice kids to drop the ‘screen time’ and swap it for the some serious ‘green time’. Examples such as a trampoline, the sand pit with plenty of water so kids can make the obligatory mud pie, a tree house for escaping the world and making up stories, chooks and veggies to remind them that food comes from the ground not from packets and even a fire pit to toast marshmallows and transport them away from the concrete jungle.
• One of the newest breed of ‘Nature Play’ parks springing up all over Perth brings back the materials kids really want to play with – sand, logs, rocks, trees, hills and valleys the perfect ingredients to help your kids rediscover the ancient and vital act of natural play.
• Throw in a few reused materials like old wharf rope and tractor tyres and you have a great way to reduce landfill whilst creating a great park that gives kids a chance to explore, lose themselves and most importantly test and stretch themselves in a safe and yet challenging natural setting. It is only by taking a few calculated risks that kids build confidence and vital life affirming resilience.
• More and more of these parks will be springing up in school yards and local parks. If you want more ideas, you can check out the Nature Play website where there are whole heap of ideas and activities to bring out the wild and natural side in your kids.

Nature Play – Contact: 08 9361 1355
Website: http://www.natureplaysolutions.com.au/Default.aspx