Raising Wildlings

Send us a text What if you could launch a thriving nature play business without breaking the bank? Most of you listening are nature loving hands-on type people. So when you’re thinking about starting a Nature Play business of your own, you might feel really confident in the Nature Play side of things but terrified of the day-to-day running of business. The other thing that worries people is the cost of start-up. So in this episode, we thought we’d tackle these two problems in one hit and give...

Send us a text Can a name shape the way we connect with nature through education? On this episode of Raising Wildlings, we are joined by the insightful (and soon-to-be Dr) Amanda England, as we unpack the nuances behind terms such "Forest School," "Nature Play," and "Bush Kinder," and discuss how these names reflect the unique environments and philosophies they represent. Amanda shares her rich experiences from Europe, offering a global perspective on how these programs are practiced differe...

Send us a text "If nature is free and play is free... Then why would I need to pay $ to insure my Nature Play session? " 😱 - Us Yes, that was our actual faces when we heard someone was running a Nature Play session WITHOUT insurance. Not only does this kind of dodgy practice risk people's livelihoods and homes... it also has the potential to completely destroy a whole industry that is supposed to protect childhood and children's right to play in nature. In this episode, Nicki Farrell &a...

Send us a text Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're screaming internally, "Not this!"? You're not alone. Inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's empowering post, this episode delves into Nicki's process of courageously saying ,'Not this,' and stepping away from situations that no longer served her and opting for a path of uncertainty over a life of discontent. Tune in and unleash the courage within you to say, "Not this." Ever wondered how to bring the magic of 'Nature Play...

Send us a text Do you ever wonder what it takes to start a business while wrestling with the complexities of parenting young children? Join us as we delve deep into the journey of Gill Howarth, the founder of Born Wise Education, who remarkably embarked on her entrepreneurial expedition during her maternity leave - just like we did with Wildlings Forest School! Gill invites us into her world, sharing her story with honesty, courage, and inspiration. For Full Show Notes Head To 👉 https://...

Send us a text Get ready to be inspired as we journey into the heart of an exceptional early childhood education center with Narelle Dawson, the esteemed Director of Bribe Island Community Kindy. Narelle offers rare insights into leading a team that's been rated excellent four times in a row, a testament to their commitment, dedication, and unwavering focus on building meaningful relationships. She reveals the secrets behind their success and the transformative power of fostering a nurturin...

Send us a text Buckle up! We are spilling our secrets on how collaborations have been a game-changer in our Wild Play business and how they can be for you too! Ever wondered what makes a partnership thrive? Let us share our experience in business partnerships and what we'd do differently if we were starting a new business today. Full Show notes can be found here: https://www.raisingwildlings.com.au/blog/unlocking-the-power-of-wild-business-partnerships-with-nicki-farrell-and-vicci-o...

Send us a text Have you ever wondered how an educational institution could place well-being at the heart of its ethos and practice? Join us for an eye-opening talk with Claire Bartlett, the founding Principal of Woodline Primary, as we discuss its journey from ideation to a growing community of students and families. Claire opens the door to Woodline's unique perspective on education. She highlights how the school's emphasis on connection, language, and individual attention fosters ...

Send us a text While playtime might seem straightforward, it's fraught with challenges and nuances that parents often overlook. In this podcast, we are joined again by researcher, author, and Professor Dr Peter Gray and today we are unraveling the intricacies of play and its influence on a child's growth. We discuss why simply taking your child to the park isn't the same as neighborhood play and the difference between 'play' and a 'playful approach to learning'. Join us f...

Send us a text Today we’re chatting to Sarah Aiono, international speaker, coach, teacher, researcher, CEO of Longworth Education and one of Aotearoa New Zealand's leading play pedagogy experts all about the biological need for all humans to play, the need for us as parents and educators to slow down childhood, how the early academic pushdown is harming children and how Sarah and her passionate team help teachers implement evidence-based play pedagogy in their everyday classroom practices.&nb...

Send us a text If you’re anything like us, the title of today’s episode, “Low Demand Parenting”, made you take a hopeful gasp and wonder if low-demand parenting could actually work for your family and take some of the weight and pressure of parenting off of your chest. Well, after chatting with Amanda Diekman, author and leading voice in the neurodiversity parenting movement, I can honestly say I felt some of that weight lift as she gave me and all our listeners permission to say, ‘It’...

Send us a text If you’ve ever been to one of our Brisbane Forest School sessions, you may have been lucky enough to meet today’s guest, Amanda England. Amanda is our Brisbane manager, friend, and business partner. On today’s podcast, Amanda is sharing her journey from preschool teacher to kickstarting our Wildlings Forest Kindy Program in Brisbane, Australia. Amanda will also share how investing her time and energy into building stakeholder relationships helped her successful...

Send us a text One of the biggest reasons for starting our own business was to be able to jump at opportunities when adventure called. It’s a great privilege to be able to do this and it’s not something we take for granted. This week on the podcast we are diving into Nicki’s recent unplanned 5-week road trip into the outback with her two homeschooled boys and dog in tow. The road schooling trip back to Nicki’s own childhood roots in South Australia. Were they new places t...

Send us a text Imagine being labeled America’s worst mother just because you made the conscious decision to allow your child to experience some independence. If you haven’t heard Lenore Skenazy’s story or read her book Free Range Kids, today’s episode is a great introduction to the Free Range Children and Grow Wild movements. 👉 Lenore shares The incredible story that catapulted her into this movement.Some of the most rewarding outcomes she has seen in her own life and in the famil...

Send us a text Issac Newton once said “What goes up must come down”, but what on Earth are we supposed to do when children climb up too high and call out for help? Recently, we’ve witnessed several occurrences where tiny climbers reach great heights only to get stuck when it comes to getting back down to the ground. In today’s podcast episode, we are deep diving into the physiology behind this and what adults can do to coach children down from great heights. In this episode, we discuss...