Workshops
Research from all around the world is telling us that children need to spend more time connected to nature in free, unstructured play, using natural resources and experiencing the natural world in their whole day, all year round…
So how can we make each day a unique, nature-filled experience for children at home, or in a family day care or kindergarten setting? How do we sustain that practice without burning out or breaking the budget?
I don’t believe it’s about simply taking what we do inside and simply doing it outside. Nor is about being experts in our natural environment in order to teach it to children. It’s about seeing the environment as a teacher in itself, and children as competent and curious ‘constant learners’ who are able to make decisions about their abilities and their creative energies to tap into their own greatest resource – their imagination.
At Honeymyrtle there are no plastic toys, no electronica, no clever puzzles designed to be ‘educational’. The more toys we adults create for children, the less children can actually do with these toys.
Natural resources such as seed pods, stones, wood rounds, pine cones, cloths, shells, simple wooden or natural-fabric toys are open-ended and require the child’s imagination to ‘finish’ them, which children willingly do.
This makes the child the creator of their play: they can play from the images of their own life experiences, not those dictated by a toy factory on the other side of the world. Gender, race, ability are all free to be shaped by the child’s own needs, experience and imagination.
Each day breathes in and out with free play, circle time, activities, story, meals and rest. Held in a secure balance like a heartbeat, this predictability gives children the confidence to move outwards into the world, with nature the backdrop to every experience.
Utilising local nature reserves, creating a natural backyard environment and having a good toolkit of ideas for sustainable practices, natural resources and holistic, seasonal programming are a good start for nature immersive care.
Parenting workshop: Nature immersive play spaces for creative, imaginative play
Come play in the Honeymyrtle garden and discover how to create an inexpensive, sustainable, fun, adventurous environment that both children and adults want to spend time in. Cook in the mud kitchen, sail off in the pirate ship, build out of loose parts, shape clay creatures, weave from nature… No matter the size of your garden, you can build a natural playspace.
NEXT WORKSHOP:
Friday October 14th 2022
10am – 12pm
$50 per person / $80 per shared-household couple
Parenting workshop: ‘A Waldorf Morning’
For parents wishing to know more about Waldorf philosophy and the connection between home and school life, for those who want a calmer home and happier children… spend a morning in the rich sensory experience of a Waldorf home.
If you are a new Waldorf family seeking information, or just want to make changes in your home life to avoid the ever-increasing commercialisation of childhood, this morning is for you.
If you want ideas around nature-immersive play and how to source open-ended toys from natural resources, this morning is for you.
If you want to discuss how to incorporate Waldorf ways simply into your home this morning is for you.
If you suspect there is a simpler, calmer, gentler, more holistic way to parent, this morning is for you…
Great for partners, parents, grandparents – for a grounding in how rhythm, simplification and nature are the backbone to calmer, creative children.
Saturday September 24th 2022
9.30am – 12.30pm
$100 per person / $180 per shared-household couple
Morning tea provided (please give dietary requirements on booking)
I attended the life changing parents workshop at Honeymyrtle with Sally yesterday!! So many beautiful and simple lessons for parents about slowing down our lives to really appreciate what we have, how to live more mindfully and peacefully, how you can make small changes to your busy day to increase the happiness of your whole family – not to mention the implications for early childhood educators. We have already implemented some small changes to our day and so far we have made and eaten all of our breakfast together (that’s a challenge for my kids to stay focused long enough normally!), told each other stories (children process their world through play and storytelling) and now the children are happily playing… on their own… with no technology! One is in her room (I think she actually put herself to bed!) the other is out the back hammering and sawing old bits of wood! Can not recommend Honeymyrtle highly enough. Thankyou Sally for sharing your gift xox
Emma, parent, Adelaide SA
My co teacher and I visited your beautiful setting, I think last year! I wanted to let you know that the visit had a profound affect on me and my husband and I have just purchased 2 acres outside Summertown and where I plan to care for children in a much more natural space than my current role permits… I wanted to thank you for sharing your home and your pedagogy with me!
Susan, EC Teacher, Adelaide SA
Rhythm, resources and ‘holding the space’ for creative, imaginative play…
A workshop for parents and educators.
Great for partners, parents, grandparents and educators – for a grounding in how rhythm, simplification and nature are the backbone to calmer, creative children.
Spend a morning experiencing how open-ended natural resources provide hours of imaginative play, are sustainable and can be sourced by children themselves…
Discover how being quietly present for children but not interfering allows deep immersion in play; how storytelling gifts children with the tools to tell their own stories; how being outside in nature and without ‘toys’ develops children’s imagination, cooperation, proprioception and motor skills in readiness for school.
Friday September 23rd 2022
9.30am – 12.30pm
$100 per person / $180 per shared-household couple
Morning tea provided (please give dietary requirements on booking)
I loved every minute of it. Thank you so much. I came home that day and noticed all of the ‘one use only’ plastic toys sitting on the shelves and I finally realised how useless they really are. I grabbed as many bags and boxes as I could find and filled them up with plastic and tossed them in the shed until further notice when I donate them or sell them… I look at resources very differently now and have also questioned my daily routine. Thank you so much for pushing me to question my method and the service I provide.
Family Day Care Educator, Modbury SA
My co teacher and I visited your beautiful setting, I think last year! I wanted to let you know that the visit had a profound affect on me and my husband and I have just purchased 2 acres outside Summertown and where I plan to care for children in a much more natural space than my current role permits… I wanted to thank you for sharing your home and your pedagogy with me!
Susan, EC Teacher, Adelaide SA
