We all know that brain development is at its peak in the first five years of life. This session will take a deep dive into how children use play as a vehicle to expand their intelligences. 

Presented by Bron Joslyn who is a Play Australia Board Member, Service Director and Early Childhood Teacher at Diamond Creek Memorial Kindergarten, Early Childhood Consultant and Committee Member of Environmental Education in Early Childhood ‘EEEC’.

Coming up: 

• Martin Halden, Coordinator – Strategic Transport, City of Greater Dandenong for Members
• Kim Moroney, Specialist: Early Years (Pre K-4) Curriculum, Curriculum and Innovation Education Research Sydney Catholic Schools for Members.
  

Play Australia's national campaign, Play Today,  is seeking to partner with professionals and
community-focussed organisations to deliver projects that improve outside play provision and enhance the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Play Australia is interested in play interventions that:

• engage with parents / caregivers of children 0-12 year old OR young people 13-17 years old
• are based in home or community settings
• seek to support better physical activity OR develop better mental health outcomes for at-risk cohorts 

Outdoors Victoria has distributed an update on DELWP’s proposed regulations for 52 Melbourne metropolitan and Regional parks:

'The proposed regulations are to bring 25 parks into a regulatory framework for the first time, with the others in their sunset regulations period needing updating. Due to the legalistic wording of the proposed regulation, members of our community have raised concerns that land managers might now be able to prohibit walking and riding off-track in large areas, as well as prohibit climbing/abseiling/rock and rope activities in areas like Camels Hump, Mount Macedon. The issue of fishing & swimming in these parks is being raised by other peaks.'

Here is a great interview by Urban Play with Associate Professor Brendon Hyndman (Play Australia Board Member). 

"Australian student numbers are predicated to increase by 17% over the decade to 2026, creating a need for hundreds of new, mostly metropolitan schools and new classrooms in areas previously set aside for play. Enrolments have already been climbing steadily and urban spaces have been getting more crowded, that has resulted in school structures ‘going vertical’ in their developments."

This article from The Conversation is written by Anne-Marie Morrissey, Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education, Deakin University and Deborah Moore, Associate Lecturer in Education, Monash University and is an excellent list of what to look for when choosing a childcare centre.

"We are early childhood researchers and in a recent study, we highlight four important features for parents to look for in a childcare centre’s physical environment. These are based on children’s right to a safe and healthy environment."

Not only do children around the world 'crave' green spaces, they 'need' green spaces!  The research has been consistently telling us this, but are city planners listening? 

"Trees and natural surroundings are far from being a frivolous amenity. They are a fundamental component of an adequate environment for children and their families, neglected at our peril."

Our friends at Playgroup Australia have launched a Playgroup Statement developed over a number of years by a National Advisory Group of Early Childhood Professionals, Educators and Playgroup experts.

This statement highlights for the first time the role Playgroups have in supporting children's development and building stronger families and communities.

The Playgroup Statement explains the value of playgroups for children, families and communities, and issues a call to action for greater resourcing and more research.

We are sure that many Landscape Architects would lament the lack of time they are provided when fulfilling some of your contracts.

Landscape Australia asks the question, "How can a richer engagement with time transform our modes of practice?" 

Dr Helen Connolly is the Commissioner for Children and Young People SA, and during Children's Week this year released a range of 'snapshots' on what children think about a range of issues. 

"Children are asking adults to take a sharper focus on their rights, interests, and wellbeing, and to integrate these into economic, social, and environmental policy. They want more of a voice and to be taken seriously — in the classroom, in their homes, in the community, and at government level."

Older kids and our youth are too often left out of the 'play' debate. Yet, playing does not have an age limit. It may look different from one age group to the next, but it is no less important. 

Being able to engage with young people is so important. VicHealth has distributed a Youth Engagement
Evaluation Framework and Toolkit. A good resource right here. 

Playspace Development Training
2-Day Program 
Wednesday 30 Nov & Thursday 1 Dec 2022

This training program is designed for people working in the government and non-government and industry  sectors, involved in the design, development, management and maintenance of play equipment and playspaces.

Participants will receive level 1 & 2 certification from Play Australia.

Play Australia membership provides support for all different sectors and industry who are part of the PLAY network. 

From Landscape Architects, Early Childhood Educators, play equipment Manufacturers, Local Government playspace teams, students, or just someone who cares about children's health and wellbeing,  Play Australia membership has something for everyone.

Membership starts from as little as $22 p/yr for a student OR $66 p/yr for an individual.

View our full list of benefits here to find the Membership package that is right for you.