• Listen to the sound of a river running, and rambling over rocks                                      

• Select a smooth skipping stone to scuttle across a river

• Find a perfect tree to climb

• Sit still and as silent as can be to hear the bird’s song

• Immerse toes in water in warm weather

• Breathe in the sweet smells of the earth after it rains

• Play in the rain and stomp in puddles

• Find a special walking stick on a bush walk

• Stop to smell a sweet rose or fragrant flower

• Make footprints in the mud by a river or on a sandy beach

• Lie down on the grass and gaze up at the ever changing clouds

You can download your printable copy of all the activites here(PDF, 5MB)

We'd love to see your creations and home based play! Share with us on Facebook at @yrfamilies #YarraRangesPlay

You can contact the YRC Family & Children’s Services team on 1300 368 333 or by email at earlyyears@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

Autumn in the Yarra Ranges is a magical time for children. Time spent outside is crucial for children’s wellbeing, development and learning.

Let’s get outside to explore and enjoy the wonders of nature this Autumn.

1. Take a regular crunchy leaf walk

2. Collect a rainbow of leaves

3. Go on a nature colour or gratitude scavenger hunt

4. Collect conifers or pinecones

5. Visit a local park or reserve

6. Collect natural Autumn treasures to make an Autumn display at home

7. Try apple bobbing

8. Go star gazing on a clear Autumn night

You can download your printable copy of all the activites here(PDF, 5MB)

We'd love to see your creations and home based play! Share with us on Facebook at @yrfamilies #YarraRangesPlay

You can contact the YRC Family & Children’s Services team on 1300 368 333 or by email at earlyyears@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

Taking children on a gratitude hunt in your local park, or on a bush walk or a walk around your local area to find objects in nature can create awe and wonder. This simple activity supports connection and being present in the moment. Autumn is the perfect time for an adventure with falling leaves and changing crimson colours. Let these ideas guide the activity:

1. Seek a natural treasure that makes you happy

2. Find something to give a person you love to make them smile

3. Seek something that you love to smell

4. What captures your eye or is something you like to look at?

5. Seek out something in nature you are thankful for

6. Can you find something that is your favourite colour?

You can download your printable copy of all the activites here(PDF, 5MB)

We'd love to see your creations and home based play! Share with us on Facebook at @yrfamilies #YarraRangesPlay

You can contact the YRC Family & Children’s Services team on 1300 368 333 or by email at earlyyears@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

1. A geologist- I will study rocks. Collect pebbles and rocks to see how similar or different they are with regards to space, size and composition.

2. An entomologist- I will study insects. Wander outside to your backyard or a local park and make a list of the insects you see, and observe their behaviour.

3. An ornithologist- I will study birds. Spend ten minutes outside in your backyard or a local park and write down how many birds you see. Can you identify what they are called?

4. An ichthyologist- I will study fish. Visit a local river, pond or the ocean to record any fish species you find.

5. A hydrologist- I will study the movement of water. On a rainy day venture outside to see where puddles form or small streams are created. Can you draw these patterns?

You can download your printable copy of all the activites here(PDF, 5MB)

(PDF, 5MB)We'd love to see your creations and home based play! Share with us on Facebook at @yrfamilies #YarraRangesPlay

You can contact the YRC Family & Children’s Services team on 1300 368 333 or by email at earlyyears@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

Nature Portraits

Trundle outside and gather natural items from around the backyard, rocks, flowers, leaves, pebbles, sticks, or bark. Use these found objects to draw a self-portrait. Leaves or sticks for hair, pebbles or rocks for eyes and bark for mouth. Craft your masterpiece and then repeat to create a portrait of another family member.

Backyard Scientific Inquiry

Make a square out of sticks or string about one meter in length. Ask your child to look quickly at the area and write down what they see. Next ask your child to look again more closely, perhaps on their hands and knees. What types of plants can be found? Are there any insects? Seeds, leaves or rocks? Record what they see along with the weather, date and time. Check back as often as you like (hourly, daily or weekly). Record any changes. Then ask your child to change the location of the square and repeat the activity.

You can download your printable copy of all the activites here(PDF, 5MB)

We'd love to see your creations and home based play! Share with us on Facebook at @yrfamilies #YarraRangesPlay

You can contact the YRC Family & Children’s Services team on 1300 368 333 or by email at earlyyears@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

An Autumn Nature Loom showcases treasures collected on your walks during the season. In Autumn with the abundance of falling leaves it is a perfect time to create a natural loom.

Materials:

• A strong ‘V’ shaped stick, or small branches tied together to make a square

• Natural wool or string

• Dried leaves, feathers, flowers (dried) and other nature decorative objects

Instructions:

1. Tie the natural wool or string to the twig or frame, wrapping it fromtop to bottom to form a loom into which you can weave your treasures. When you have wrapped it enough, tie the other end of the yarn to anchor it.

2. Now weave your leaves, seeds, feathers and anything else you like into the wool.

3. Create a welcome Autumn display with your finished Nature Loom by standing it in a sturdy pot or soil, hanging it above a window or pushing it into the ground for everyone to see and enjoy.

You can download your printable copy of all the activites here(PDF, 5MB)

We'd love to see your creations and home based play! Share with us on Facebook at @yrfamilies #YarraRangesPlay

You can contact the YRC Family & Children’s Services team on 1300 368 333 or by email at earlyyears@yarraranges.vic.gov.au