Bush preschools across Perth are increasingly attracting families seeking innovative early childhood education that fosters connection with nature, wellbeing, and practical environmental skills, with evidence supporting their benefits for young children’s development.
Bush preschool is becoming increasingly popular across Perth as more parents and educators look for learning settings that move beyond the standard classroom. The appeal is not just philosophical. Research from the University of Melbourne and Deakin University has linked nature-based preschool programmes with stronger wellbeing and a closer bond with the natural world in young children. In Hamersley, Keiki’s Bush Preschool presents that idea in practical terms, with outdoor spaces designed to let children explore, move and learn in the open air.
Educators behind nature-based learning argue that the outdoors offers a far richer sensory experience than an indoor room. Children encounter changing weather, the scent of soil and flowers, the roughness of bark, the sounds of wind and birds, and the feel of gardens and uneven ground underfoot. That constant variety, they say, helps young learners pay attention to the world around them and to their own development as they grow.
The educational value goes well beyond simple observation. At Keiki’s Bush Preschool, children can water plants, pick vegetables and feed scraps into a worm farm that helps enrich the soil. According to the programme, these kinds of activities give children an early understanding of life cycles, sustainability and their role in caring for the environment. The centre also points to opportunities for children to learn how First Nations peoples care for Country, adding cultural context to outdoor learning.
For many families, the attraction lies in what children take home as much as what they do on site. As their confidence grows, children begin to identify local birds, insects and plants and talk more knowingly about the seasons and the animals they see. Keiki says its Glendale Bush Preschool in Hamersley caters for children aged two to five and aims to build independence, resilience and emotional regulation through play-based experiences in a bushland setting. Its broader Hamersley centre serves children from birth to five and forms part of a family-owned Perth provider established in 2003.
The physical benefits are equally important. Running, climbing and balancing on natural ground can strengthen coordination and confidence in ways that a carpeted room cannot. Speldewinde and Campbell, in a 2024 Deakin study, concluded that nature play helps children build environmental understanding and an affinity with the natural world. For centres such as Keiki, that finding helps explain why bush preschool is no longer a niche idea, but an approach gaining momentum as parents search for early learning that combines care, movement and connection to nature.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
