ESC20 ONE Conference 2025

Jungles are diverse havens, home to over half of Earth’s species, playing a vital role in regulating climate and inspiring awe and wonder. This session will set us on the path together toward celebrating the wondrous jungle that is your classroom . . . also full of diversity, regulation of little ones, awe and wonder for all.​ The interconnectedness of the jungle relies greatly on communication, collaboration and joy. Let’s learn together how to learn together!​

Children have lost opportunities to explore and discover in the communities where they live for numerous, compounding reasons, but Early Learning professionals can compensate by providing flexible and inclusive ‘yes-environments,’ where curiosity, wonder, and problem-solving thrive.

You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of why all children need time and space to direct their own play, and how to design and implement spaces that provide this powerful path to neurological, social-emotional and physical growth.

You will also have time to play! And to reflect using concepts from playwork, a profession initially developed on adventure playgrounds in the United Kingdom, but now used in a wide range of contexts from schools and parks to children's hospitals. Playwork provides a unique set of tools for observing self-directed play, while better understanding when and how to jump in with supports, using “the lightest touch possible.”