At All Things OSHC: Outside the Box, I believe the most magical play happens when children are given the chance to explore, create, and imagine with the natural world around them.

A stick becomes a wand, a leaf becomes a canvas, and a puddle becomes a potion. Through nature-inspired crafts and experiences, I invite educators to step outside the box of traditional programming and rediscover the wonder that lives in every rock, petal, and patch of earth.

 

My activity sheets, tutorials, and ideas are designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection, making every OSHC environment a place where whimsy meets sustainability. I want to show that any service, anywhere, can weave nature into their program. You don’t need access to a forest or to purchase expensive natural item kits online, you just need curiosity, some simple tools, and the confidence to start.

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Why outside the box? 

For many years I worked in and managed OSHC programs that were run out of school halls; big empty spaces that had to be set up and packed down every day. In these programs we didn’t have access to grassy gardens or shady trees, and I remember feeling frustrated that our children were missing out on the sense of calm and wonder that comes from playing in nature. The sense of calm and wonder I was fortunate enough to experience in my own childhood and now have a deep passion for ensuring that my child, along with all children have access to nature and all the wonders it has to offer.

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Over time in these spaces, I discovered that nature play in OSHC doesn’t have to mean bushland or fancy outdoor spaces. It can be as simple as a stick, a handful of leaves, a pile of stones. The magic lies in how we invite children to use them, in craft, in play, in storytelling and in noticing the world around them. I’ve always had a love of curating beautiful nature exploration zones within indoor environments, or programming experiences which engage children and educators in the natural work with limited resources required. For years I have supported my teams of managers and educators to consider nature zones in their physical environments and look at creative ways to bring the outdoor in. I love watching children engage with these zones as the provocations spark their curiosity, and the imaginations run wild as they use natural items in their dramatic play and craft.

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How does Out of the Box support QA3?

Outside the Box is dedicated to supporting services in embedding nature-based play and craft into their programs. Grounded in Quality Area 3 of the National Quality Standard, my resources help educators design environments that are sustainable, engaging, and deeply connected to the natural world, both indoors and outdoors. 

 

From practical activity sheets to video tutorials and whimsical experience guides, I provide OSHC teams with simple, meaningful ways to bring nature into their everyday practice. My goal is to empower educators to create play spaces that nurture creativity, wellbeing, and children’s sense of belonging with the environment.

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In a world surrounded by technology, I believe every child deserves a chance to slow down and feel the textures, colours and smells of the natural world, learn to care for Country and respect the living things around them, and discover that play doesn’t have to be bought,  it can be found!