What is Bush Kindy?
Bush Kindy is an early childhood program grounded in nature play, curiosity, and connection. At Burbank Bush Kindy, it means children spend their days immersed in the natural world, climbing, discovering, creating, and exploring among trees, mud and rocks. It’s where imaginations run wild and little bodies grow strong through outdoor play.
Our Bush Kindy program is inspired by the forest school philosophy and supported by current research into child development and wellbeing. We believe nature is the best teacher, offering rich opportunities for children to build confidence, resilience, creativity, and a deep sense of belonging.
Why Bush Kindy?
Bush Kindy offers more than just a change of scenery, it offers a change in pace, perspective, and discovery.
In nature, children are free to follow their instincts, test their ideas, and experience the world with all their senses. Learning happens naturally and joyfully, without the limits of four walls. The sights, sounds, textures, and rhythms of the outdoors awaken a deep sense of curiosity and wonder in young minds.
At Burbank Bush Kindy, nature is both the classroom and the curriculum. Research shows that time in nature supports every area of child development—and we see it every day. Children who attend Bush Kindy:
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Develop strong bodies and coordination through climbing, balancing, lifting, and navigating uneven terrain
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Learn to assess risk and grow their confidence in making safe, independent choices
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Expand their creativity and imagination with open-ended materials like sticks, stones, leaves, and mud
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Build emotional resilience through overcoming challenges and finding joy in simple moments
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Strengthen language and communication skills through shared experiences and collaborative play
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Foster social connections by working together, solving problems, and caring for one another
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Deepen their understanding of the natural world through real-life observation and hands-on learning
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Grow a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the environment, plants, animals, and land
In a world where children are often hurried, scheduled, and overstimulated, Bush Kindy offers a vital balance. It allows children to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect, with nature, with others, and with themselves.
Bush Kindy is not just about playing outside. It’s about raising grounded, capable, kind human beings who feel at home in the world around them.