The benefits of nature play for young children at Sanctuary Maudsland

Children learn best when they can explore, move and discover the world around them.

Nature play helps children build confidence, creativity and wellbeing while learning through real-world experiences. At Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure Maudsland, children explore nature every day through unique outdoor environments including a creek that flows through the playground, natural greenery surrounding the centre, native bees living within the garden space and a mud kitchen designed for messy play and discovery.

For families in Maudsland, this kind of environment allows children to learn, move and explore in ways that support healthy development and joyful learning.

Nature play is unstructured play in natural environments where children explore materials like water, sand, leaves, soil and sticks.

Instead of structured toys or rigid activities, children are encouraged to follow their curiosity. They might:

build with branches or natural materials
splash and experiment with water
collect leaves and natural treasures
dig and mix ingredients in a mud kitchen
observe insects, birds or plants.

This type of play supports creativity, independence and problem solving while allowing children to connect with the world around them.

At Sanctuary Maudsland, nature is not just something children visit — it is built into their everyday learning environment.

Our outdoor playground is nestled amongst natural greenery, creating a calm and inviting space where children can explore plants, trees and open outdoor areas.

One of the centre’s most loved features is the creek flowing from the senior playground through to the junior playground. This small creek allows children to safely interact with water while exploring how it moves, flows and changes.

Children might:

build small dams or channels in the creek
float leaves or natural materials
watch how water moves around rocks
explore textures like sand, mud and stones.

These experiences encourage curiosity and discovery while supporting sensory learning.

Messy play is an important part of early childhood learning.

At Sanctuary Maudsland, children love spending time in the mud kitchen, where they can mix, pour and experiment using natural ingredients.

Children often create imaginative “recipes” using:

mud
water
leaves
flowers
sand.

This playful experimentation helps children develop creativity and confidence while engaging their senses.

Messy play also supports:

problem solving
imaginative thinking
social collaboration
sensory exploration.

And most importantly, children are free to explore without worrying about getting a little messy.

Another special part of the outdoor environment at Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure Maudsland is the presence of native Australian bees nestled within the garden spaces.

These gentle native bees are an important part of our ecosystem and provide a wonderful opportunity for children to observe nature up close. With guidance from educators, children can safely watch the bees as they move between flowers and plants.

Through these experiences, children begin to learn about:

how bees help plants grow through pollination
the importance of caring for living things
how nature works together in healthy ecosystems.

Observing the native bees encourages children to slow down, notice the small details in nature and ask questions about the world around them.

It also helps nurture respect for the environment and an appreciation for wildlife, supporting early sustainability awareness.

Nature play helps support multiple areas of development during the early years.

Physical development

Outdoor environments encourage movement and active play. Children develop strength and coordination through activities such as:

climbing
balancing
digging
running
jumping.

Social and emotional growth

Playing outdoors with friends helps children learn to:

work together
share ideas
take turns
build confidence.

Nature also has a calming effect, helping children feel relaxed and connected.

Curiosity and creativity

Natural environments offer open-ended materials that spark imagination. A stick might become:

a magic wand
a fishing rod
a spoon for the mud kitchen.

This kind of imaginative play supports creativity and flexible thinking.

At Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure Maudsland, children enjoy the freedom to explore, create and discover through nature-based play.

With a creek flowing through the playground, natural greenery surrounding the centre, native bees living in the garden spaces and a mud kitchen designed for messy play, our outdoor environment offers unique opportunities for children to learn through adventure.

If you would like to see these spaces in action, we would love to welcome your family.

Enquire with Sanctuary Maudsland and discover how nature play can support your child’s development every day.

What age can children start nature play?
Children can begin exploring nature from infancy. Even babies benefit from sensory experiences outdoors, such as feeling grass or watching leaves move.
Is nature play safe for young children?
Yes, when children are supervised by educators or parents. Safe environments allow children to explore while learning how to manage small challenges.
Why is messy play important?
Messy play encourages creativity, sensory exploration and problem solving. Activities like using a mud kitchen help children experiment and express their imagination.
Does nature play support school readiness?
Yes. Nature play develops independence, communication skills and resilience — all important for a successful transition to school.
How often should children play outdoors?
Daily outdoor play supports physical health, emotional wellbeing and curiosity about the world.