Cath Fitzhardinge

Big or small, your outdoor space could spark play, support wildlife and the environment, and reconnect you with nature 💚 A big thanks to @cathfitz_ot for allowing us to share her gorgeous verge once again! Video description: Clips show a beautiful native verge garden that starts as a patch of dirt. A family slowly adds things like a cubby and stepping stones until the kids can be seen playing in it at the end.

Mapping play, designing possibilities… 🤸‍♀️ What a joy to share the application of my MPhil research into play diversity and play mapping using the Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (Loebach & Cox, 2020) with an awesome bunch of @le_australasia #2026UNLEASH delegates (who embraced the Djeran rain this morning) at the best conference venue… Perth Zoo!! 🦒🦘🦓🐊🐢 A huge shout out to @four_landscape_studio who are passionate play advocates and see the value in digging a little deeper into play behaviours, patterns and gaps in order to inform their designs! A personal highlight was seeing Andy’s demonstration of play types… especially the multiple cartwheels and tree climbing efforts!?! 🤸🌳👏 #2026UNLEASH #playmapping

What an inspiring day, full of possibilities at at the Learning Environments Australasia Conference - #2026UNLEASH 💚💖 @le_australasia It was such a pleasure to soak up the incredibly thoughtful and connected Welcome to Country from Ash and Tai from @corroboree_for_life ❤️🖤💛 I then had the pleasure of leading a learning tour - check out my official UNLEASH 🧢😎 This dynamic tour showcased three distinct learning environments, each pushing the boundaries of pedagogy and place. 🌱At Heathridge Primary School, we explored how climate action and Ngaparrtji Ngaparrtji (Two-Way Science) converge through the Miyawaki Forest, Bush Classroom, and a deeply integrated, culturally responsive curriculum. 🚀We then journeyed to Joseph Banks Secondary College to explore the Western Australian Space Science Education Centre, where students engage in immersive “Mission to Mars” simulations. 🚸Finally, at Newman College, we discovered research-driven junior school spaces designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and individualised learning through flexible design and cutting-edge technology. The learning tour title aptly summarised our experience “Learning from across worlds - from forests to Mars.” The day was topped off with more inspiration from @damon.gameau and the incredibly articulate and talented @rubyrodgersmusic (also playing on this reel!) Looking forward to more inspiring learning tomorrow @le_australasia @le_wa_chapter #2026UNLEASH #LEA

Loose parts birthday gift idea… 🐚👩‍🍳🍂🪄✨🧪 Two gorgeous little people have had birthdays recently, and will be celebrating with a mud kitchen birthday party! 🥳 So I thought a little mud kitchen gift pack would be a great gift idea! Lots of natural loose parts and some op shop finds to ignite the mud kitchen magic!! 🪄 👩‍🍳🧪🍂🐚✨ I can’t wait to see what these little chefs create!!!

Thinking About Thinking… 📚🤔💚 Checking out the latest is @le_wa_chapter Compendium series, “Thinking About Thinking”. This publication continues LEWA’s tradition of exploring learning environments not simply as buildings, but as thoughtfully designed places that support learning as a social, cultural and deeply human experience. Across its pages, leaders, educators, learners, designers, occupational therapists 🙋‍♀️ and community partners share their perspectives, reinforcing the idea that meaningful learning environments are created through collaboration, dialogue and shared purpose. The Compendium brings together a diversity of voices that reflects the reality of contemporary practice — offering insights that extend well beyond any one discipline or viewpoint. I’m so thrilled to have my play mapping research included in this incredible West Australian resource! Thanks @le_wa_chapter and p[r]ep (post-graduate researchers, educators and practitioners) for supporting my research journey and embracing play as learning! 🙏🏼

When the students are away… the teachers come out to play! 🌿❤️☀️ On Monday, after the bell rang, our spaces were filled with educators leaning into play. Experimenting, exploring and, yes… making saltbush bubbles in the mud kitchen, with Taylah, our Principal, (vigorously) leading the charge. We also welcomed back a very familiar face, former Principal Melissa Kennedy, now Early Childhood Consultant at @aiswa.education Melissa was instrumental in organising and facilitating the session, and it was so special to have her back on site, continuing to contribute to the Kerry Street community in a new way. Hosted at Kerry Street in partnership with AISWA, and led by @cathfitz_ot , the session explored the role of play as a foundation for learning. We unpacked: • Different types of play and their impact across ages • Why managed risk matters — and what it actually looks like in practice • The benefits of time in nature for regulation, wellbeing and connection When leaders and educators model play, curiosity and courage, it shapes the culture around them. Play isn’t a break from learning, it is learning 🙌 #KerryStreetCommunitySchool #AISWA #PlayfulPedagogies #playbasedlearning #naturebasedlearning play wildspace

Outdoor play diversity… 💚 What a joy it was to present my research and use of the Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO) (Loebach & Cox, 2020) to a wonderful group of passionate @aiswa.education educators in the equally wonderful learning environment that is @kerrystreetschool 💚 This is just a snapshot of the incredibly diverse play opportunities offered in their wild space!!! I can only imagine the amount of rich and joyful play that emerges here!! 🫖🌳🤸‍♀️🛝⛺️🌿🐓🔨🪵🪄 Thanks for having me and for sharing your wonderful school!

Those who have been shaped by the wild… 💚 It is such an honour to have been invited to contribute to this beautiful new book by Clare Anderson @thegreenbloods 📚💚 My contribution shares a deeply personal time in my life - losing my beautiful mum and dad within a year of each other - and how nature became my grounding and connection through grief… which ultimately inspired (and still inspires) what I do @cathfitz_ot as a nature play advocate and consultant. 🌲 Alongside 70+ inspiring voices from scientists to surfers, gardeners to gurus, this book is a powerful reminder of how nature shapes the way we live, think and connect. I feel so privileged to be a part of it 🌲📚💚 Thank you Clare 🙏🏼 You can find out more about The Greenbloods here ⬇️ .au/Greenbloods-Guiding-us-Home/dp/1764449401

Never too old for a mud kitchen… 🫖 Our #communiteaverge garden is enjoyed by lots of families with young kiddos. But every so often our kids still enjoy it, especially when there are new seasonal ingredients available… these #illyarrie or red-capped gums are one of their favourites ingredients! 🔴🔴🔴

Barky boats… 🪵 ⛵️🍁💦 A special nature play event for some amazing litte people, on a hot day calls for barky boats!!! Tip: the bigger the bark, the better!!! 💪 #natureplay #natureplaywa #playtoday #barkyboats #outdoorot

Moments not minutes… Bring the magic!! 🪄 A little reminder to join in with the awe and wonder that our kiddos share with us! 🤩

Feeling festive… ✨✨✨ #communiteavergegarden