Here are the best family-friendly Halloween events around Adelaide for 2026, plus a few tips for the big night.

Halloween events in Adelaide for kids

Halloween Wail at the Gaol, Adelaide Gaol

Saturday 24 October, 11am–3pm

The old Adelaide Gaol swaps its usual ghost stories for a fairytale trail, with treats at every station for kids who complete it. It’s spooky enough to feel like an adventure without giving anyone nightmares. Tickets are $10.90 for kids, $18.10 for adults, or $49 for a family. Book through Parks SA, and note that entry is now via Bonython Park, off Port Road.

adelaidegaol.sa.gov.au

Festival of Halloween Family Day, Port Adelaide

Sunday 25 October

The Flour Shed at Hart’s Mill hosts a Halloween marketplace with a trick-or-treat trail, kids’ crafts, pumpkin carving demonstrations and roaming characters ready for photos. The Saturday night session is for over-16s, so make sure you book the Sunday family day.

Book via TryBooking

Boo at the Zoo, Adelaide Zoo

Friday 30 October, 4pm–8pm

Adelaide Zoo’s after-hours Halloween party is a highlight of the spooky season. Every guest gets a treat bag on arrival, then heads off along a trick-or-treat trail, with spooky photo spots and live performers on the Central Lawns. There’s also a relaxed session from 3pm to 4pm with smaller crowds and quieter installations, which is great for kids who find big events overwhelming. Leave the inflatable costumes and scooters at home, as they’re not allowed.

adelaidezoo.com.au

Halloween at the Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market

Sunday 25 October, 8.30am–12.30pm

One of the market’s biggest family days of the year. The popular Trick or Treat Trail runs from 8.30am to 11.30am. Each $5 trail bag (free for children of Market Members) comes with 10 tokens to swap for treats at participating stalls. Numbers are strictly limited, so get there early.

Kids can also hunt for the Boo Sign at each stall and fill in their Trail Card for a chance to win a prize, drawn at noon, and vote for the best-dressed Halloween stall. Fleurieu Lavender is the reigning champion! Wilbur’s Wildlife Creepy Crawlies is back from 9.30am to 11.30am, along with face painting and a Halloween Kids Club activity. Market entry is free.

adelaidefarmersmarket.com.au

Halloween Storybook Trail – Carrick Hill

Saturday 31 October, 5pm–9pm

Carrick Hill’s much-loved Storybook Trail gets a spooky makeover for Halloween night. Little ghosts, witches and superheroes can follow the trail through the gardens, stopping at trick-or-treat stations along the way and watching out for surprises around every corner. At the end, they can pop on headphones and dance it out at a spooky silent disco. Food trucks serve coffee and snacks for the grown-ups.

Sessions start every half hour and take about an hour. Tickets are from $26.50 each, and babies under 12 months go free.

carrickhill.sa.gov.au

Haunted Halloween Twilight Market – Victor Harbor

Saturday 31 October, 1pm–8pm

Halloween night itself gets the full twilight market treatment, with artisan stalls, small businesses, food trucks and live bands playing into the evening. There’s a costume competition, so dress the whole family up, and get those dancing feet ready for the “Thriller” flash mob dance-off. A bar for the grown-ups and a psychic fair add to the fun.

victorharborartisanmarket.com

Halloween Boo Bash – Payneham Tavern

Sunday 25 October, from 12pm

Little ghouls can dance off their sugar high at this daytime kids’ Halloween disco at Payneham Tavern, with plenty of family entertainment while the grown-ups grab lunch. It’s an easy follow-on from the Farmers’ Market Halloween morning, which wraps up at 12.30pm.

319 Payneham Road, Payneham

Children’s Halloween Spooky Trail – Beaumont House

Saturday 31 October, 4pm-7pm

Brave little adventurers can dodge zombies and deadly pirates, creep past a haunted graveyard and, if they dare, step into the witch’s den of horrors at this spooky trail through the grounds of historic Beaumont House. Every child gets a treat bag on the way out, and there’s food and drink for sale on site. Tickets are $5 per child, and accompanying adults go free. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

It’s run by the Burnside Branch of the National Trust of SA. Tickets sell fast.

nationaltrust.org.au

Trick-or-treat tips for Adelaide families

Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October this year, so trick-or-treating can start a little earlier than on a school night. A few tips to keep it fun:

• Stick to houses that are clearly joining in. Look for decorations, a carved pumpkin or lights on at the front door.
• Go early. Twilight is easier for little ones and neighbours alike, and daylight saving means it stays light until around 7.45pm.
• Add some visibility. A glow stick or torch makes costumes easier for drivers to see.
• Check the haul before eating. Sort the treats at home, especially if anyone has allergies.
• Remember not everyone celebrates. A quiet “thank you” goes a long way, and so does skipping houses with no decorations.

Halloween at home

Not keen on crowds? A spooky movie night, a backyard treasure hunt or a pumpkin carving session can be just as fun. Even a trip to the local op shop for costume bits makes for a cheap afternoon of dress-ups.

Whether you’re trick-or-treating around the street or lining up at the zoo, Halloween in Adelaide is all about dressing up, collecting treats and having fun together.

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From 5pm to 8pm, the Senior School Lawn will transform into a festival playground packed with books, live music, entertainment and activities designed for the whole family. It’s a chance to connect with authors, discover new reads and soak up the creativity that makes this festival such a highlight on Adelaide’s calendar.

The main festival runs across 29 and 30 October, welcoming thousands of young people to workshops, talks and special events with some of Australia’s leading authors and illustrators. The Community Evening extends that experience beyond the school gates, giving families a taste of the literary magic.

Who you’ll meet

Media personality and Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador Rebecca Morse will host the evening. You’ll have the chance to meet festival presenters, browse the festival bookshop and get books signed by your favourite authors.

The 2026 line-up is packed with literary talent, including Matt Stanton, R.A. Spratt, Jack Heath, Nat Amoore, Felice Arena, Katrina Nannestad, Will Kostakis, Lili Wilkinson, Sean Williams, Margot McGovern and Carla Salmon.

What’s on for kids

A highlight of the evening is Book ‘N’ Boogie with bestselling children’s author Nat Amoore. This interactive experience combines storytelling, music and movement, encouraging kids to dance, laugh and celebrate books in a whole new way.

Families can also enjoy a special performance from Sunny Luwe, a proud Wayilwan woman and acclaimed singer-songwriter who shares uplifting stories and music inspired by culture, connection and optimism.

And if your kids have ever wanted to see an author covered in slime, this is their moment. Sliming for Charity returns, with lucky ticket holders getting the chance to slime R.A. Spratt, Will Kostakis and Matt Stanton, plus Immanuel College Principal John Thompson and Immanuel Primary School Principal Stephen Jude. Funds raised will support global literacy charity Room to Read.

More to explore

Throughout the evening, you’ll find live student performances, roving entertainers, spray tattoos, food trucks and the popular Great Book Swap supporting the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Whether you’re raising an avid reader, an aspiring writer or just looking for a fun family night out, this is a lovely way to celebrate imagination and community.

The Community Evening is free to attend, with bookings recommended. Find out more at ouaf.immanuel.sa.edu.au.

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Separated from her humans on Karta Pitingka (Kangaroo Island), Valerie survived alone for 529 days. That’s the age of a toddler. Her extraordinary resilience became a worldwide news story.

No one knows exactly how Valerie managed to survive in the wilderness for so long, but Clare Watson has been busy chatting with toddlers asking them what they think in the creation of a new show for toddlers set to premiere in 2027.

Photo by Bri Hammond

Here’s what Clare had to say:

What was it about Valerie’s story that made you want to create a stage show?

Valerie the sausage dog, who was lost on Kangaroo Island and then found alive was a story that captured the world. It was a story of hope and resilience. It was a story about being small and defying expectation. It was a story that was framed as a miracle. Windmill is based in South Australia and it’s a story that unfolded right here on our doorstep. At Windmill we create theatre experiences for children and their families and this felt like the perfect story for our audience.

The show is being made ‘with and for toddlers’. What made you want to collaborate with toddlers for this work, and what has that experience been like?

Valerie had a solo adventure on Kangaroo Island that lasted 529 days. Valerie can’t tell us what she got up to and exactly how she survived during her island adventure. We can only speculate. And so, we thought we’d ask toddlers to speculate for us. ‘What do you think Valerie did on the island? What would you do on an island adventure?’ Through a series of workshops and interviews, we’ve been imagining and investigating what might possibly have happened.

Photo by Bri Hammond

Have there been any recurring ideas or thoughts during the interview sessions? Did any of the conversations surprise you?

The brilliant toddlers we’ve been working with have been coming up with lots of great ideas about what Valerie has been eating, where she’s been sleeping and all of the animals that she met along the way.

We’ve had dance parties, we’ve done a lot of swimming and we’ve munched on cupcakes. Valerie has been having long chats with wombats, echidnas and even a platypus. She’s been learning from wallabies and playing with kangaroos and their joeys.

It’s been no surprise that our toddler friends have been hilarious, inventive and really well informed about the natural world. Toddlers’ love of nature is a constant source of joy. Surprisingly, we haven’t worried about such a small dog being all alone on a big island, instead we have found her friends and she’s learned how to find food and water.

Their proposal is that this little dog survived 529 days alone in the wilderness because she was not, in fact, entirely alone. Her story of survival becomes a story about humility: about learning to observe, to adapt and to accept what the natural world has to offer.

Photo by Bri Hammond

When will Valerie hit the stage? What do you think audiences can expect?

Valerie will be a gorgeous sausage dog puppet. We’re hoping to create an audience experience that feels a bit like you’re taking your very own trip to Kangaroo Island. The days and nights unfold as the seasons pass and we travel with Valerie through the stunning landscape, meeting some local friends along the way. On the island she discovers a community of friends whose generosity and hospitality teaches her how to survive in harmony with the island.

We can’t wait to share this gorgeous, local story with audiences in Adelaide 2027.

What is AusART Day, why is it important and why should people donate to Windmill?

AusART Day is a nationwide, sector-wide fundraising initiative that Windmill is participating in. It’s on Thursday 22 October and is designed to mobilise arts organisations to raise funds for their work on a single day. Simply put, it is a day to ‘Make Art Happen’.

As costs increase across the arts, donations to Windmill on this day go directly towards supporting the local artists and creatives who will get Valerie on our stages for toddlers and their families to enjoy.

How can people donate this AusART Day?

Easy. Go to: givenow.com.au/windmill_valerie

Hero image by Bri Hammond

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Two exhibitions, one ticket deal

The SA Museum is currently showing Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, now in its 23rd year. This prestigious contest showcases over 100 images of extraordinary wildlife, landscapes and natural moments captured by photographers from around the world. It’s one of Australia’s most respected nature photography competitions, and walking through the exhibition with kids is a brilliant way to spark conversations about Australian wildlife and the environment.

Over at the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Wildlife Photographer of the Year has returned for spring and summer. Now in its 61st year, this internationally renowned exhibition features exceptional photographs capturing fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. The images range from tiny insects to sweeping landscapes, giving families plenty to discover together.

What you need to know

The combined ticket deal makes visiting both exhibitions more affordable:

• Adults: $22
• Concession, seniors and students: $20
• Kids aged 12 and under: Free

The offer runs until Sunday 31 January 2027, so you have plenty of time to plan your visits. You don’t need to see both exhibitions on the same day, which is handy if you want to spread out the outings or have younger kids who might find two exhibitions in one day a bit much.

How to book

Tickets can be booked online. Simply select your preferred date and add the Nature & Wildlife Photographer exhibition ticket deal to your booking.

Both exhibitions are housed in climate-controlled indoor spaces, making them ideal outings regardless of the weather. They’re also a great option for a quieter, more contemplative activity if you’re looking for something different from the usual playground run.

Whether your kids are budding photographers, animal lovers or just enjoy looking at beautiful images, these exhibitions offer something genuinely special. And with free entry for children under 12, it’s an affordable way to introduce them to the wonders of the natural world.

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BIGGEST MOB Family Day is packed with free entertainment for the whole family. Alongside the headline act, you’ll find local teen DJ Angel on the decks, Adelaide’s own pop-R&B vocal trio OPULENCE, workshops, face painting, food trucks, a yarning circle, sensory space and more.

About Mulga Bore Hard Rock

Inspired by classic hard rock acts including KISS, Mulga Bore Hard Rock are a six-piece family band from Akaye (Mulga Bore) in the Northern Territory. They perform original songs and opened for KISS on their Australian tour in 2022.

What’s on at BIGGEST MOB Family Day

• Live music from Mulga Bore Hard Rock, DJ Angel and OPULENCE
• Yarning Circle where community members can share experiences, perspectives and ideas
• Next Gen Mob Market featuring handmade goods from local First Nations artists
• Sensory Space provided by Autism SA
• Workshops and face painting
• Food trucks

First Nations Programming Executive Celia Coulthard said OUR MOB is deeply valued and keenly anticipated each year by artists, community and the wider arts sector.

“We have been delighted to celebrate our 20th anniversary with the biggest year yet, culminating in a free concert from rock legends Mulga Bore Hard Rock at BIGGEST MOB Family Day this weekend,” she said.

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould said hundreds of contemporary First Nations artists from across South Australia have taken part in OUR MOB over the past 20 years.

“We are proud to mark the significance of this 20th anniversary with BIGGEST MOB and welcome everyone to our venues this weekend for a huge day of free family fun,” she said.

Don’t miss the exhibitions

While you’re there, catch the BIGGEST MOB exhibitions before they close:

• Connected by Wilay Designs in Artspace (until 4 October)
• As Long As We Weave by Carly Tarkari Dodd in the Adelaide Railway Station Historic Phone Booths (until 4 October)
• defi-Nations poetry exhibition in The Galleries, Festival Theatre (until 4 October)
• UV Songlines: Illuminating Young Stories in the Ian and Pamela Wall Gallery (until 8 November)

UV Songlines shines a light on the stories and personal lived experiences of seven of South Australia’s next generation of First Nations artists.

OUR MOB is on display until 4 October, with some artworks still available for sale.

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Whether your little ones are into art, stories, nature or just love following clues, there’s something here to spark their imagination. And with activities ranging from free to $15, it’s a great way to fill a morning or afternoon without breaking the budget.

Workshops for creative kids

The Sugarcane Kids workshop with Charlie Archbold

Monday 28 September, 10am to 11am
Jervois Room, North Tce side of the Mortlock Chamber
$5 per person

Get hands-on with The Sugarcane Kids in this fun workshop exploring the story behind sugarcane through making and doing. A great one for curious kids who love to learn by creating.

Create your own 3D Tunnel Book with Georgina Chadderton

Thursday 1 October, 10am to 12pm
Jervois Room, Mortlock Wing
$10 per person

Take a story off the page and into three dimensions. Artist Georgina Chadderton will guide kids through cutting, folding and layering paper to create their very own tunnel book that comes alive.

Start Art Book Club with Helen Lawry

Sunday 4 October, 12pm to 1pm
Meet at the Art Gallery of South Australia
Ages 8 to 13

This one kicks off at the Art Gallery of South Australia, where kids will explore artworks connected to the featured story, Saskia Spark-Lee: Fundraiser Fail. Then it’s over to the State Library for writing and art-making activities inspired by what they’ve discovered.

Little Library joins the Nature Festival

The Little Library is getting in on the Nature Festival action with a season of seed-filled fun designed especially for little people and their grown-ups.

Create your own pop-up garden with Studio Ruby Chew

Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October, 11.30am to 12.30pm
Little Library, Spence Wing
$15 per person

Turn imagination into a garden. Kids will get crafty with nature-inspired ideas and create their very own pop-up garden to take home.

Magical Seeds with Studio Ruby Chew

Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October, 1pm to 2pm
Little Library, Spence Wing
$15 per person

What if a tiny seed could grow into something magical? In this creative workshop, kids will explore seeds, stories and making as they create their own magical world.

Free activities for families

Discovery Trail

Turn your visit to the State Library into an adventure with the Discovery Trail, a free, self-guided activity for kids and families. Pick up the trail at the Welcome Desk in the glass foyer and follow the clues to discover fascinating spaces, curious objects and surprising stories hiding in plain sight.

Pull Pop Push: Revealing the magic of pop-up books

While you’re there, don’t miss this exhibition celebrating the wonderful world of pop-up books.

Seedling Exchange with the City of Adelaide Library

The City of Adelaide Library is inviting little ones to be part of the Seedling Exchange, a living art installation growing throughout Nature Festival. Plant a native seed, give it a drink, and watch your little seedling become part of Adelaide’s future. The City of Adelaide will nurture the seedlings and plant them across the city.

More at the City of Adelaide Library

Located in the Spence Wing, the City of Adelaide Library has even more on offer these school holidays:

• Family story time
• Lego club
• Digital embroidery
• Youth drop-in
• Embroiders assemble
• Special bilingual storytime

Bookings are essential for most workshops, so jump online and secure your spot before they fill up. Head to the State Library website for full details and to book.

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Little Circus

Step into a whimsical French village where excitement fills the air. The mademoiselles, accompanied by their chaperone, arrive at the Little Circus for an afternoon of wonder. A magician dazzles with clever tricks, tight-rope walkers and acrobats captivate with breathtaking skill, clowns bring joyful mischief, musicians serenade the crowd, and fortune tellers whisper glimpses of the future.

This charming ballet brims with colour, character and delight. It’s the kind of enchanting performance that will have your little ones transfixed.

Impact

The second work turns its gaze closer to home. Over the past five years, South Australia has felt the force of unpredictable weather: bushfires, sand erosion, drought and floods. Impact explores these environmental shifts through powerful choreography, reflecting resilience, fragility and the shared responsibility we hold for our landscape.

It’s moving, atmospheric and deeply relevant. A work that speaks meaningfully to the present while showcasing the remarkable talent of these young dancers.

A milestone worth celebrating

Four decades of youth artistry, storytelling, creativity and community. That’s no small achievement. This anniversary season promises beauty, heart and unforgettable performances from South Australia’s own young ballet company.

With showtimes at 12pm and 3pm daily from 1-3 October, it’s a perfect school holiday outing for the whole family.

Details

• When: 1-3 October 2026
• Showtimes: 12pm and 3pm
• Where: The Goodwood Institute, Goodwood Parade, Goodwood
• Tickets: trybooking.com/DOSNQ

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If you’ve got school-aged kids, chances are you already know DreamBIG. More than 2.5 million children have participated since the festival began in 1974 (back when it was called Come Out Festival), making it an intrinsic part of growing up in South Australia.

What’s on for schools

This year’s program brings beloved books to life on stage. Theatre Royal Bath (UK) presents The Little Prince, a whimsical adventure of infinite possibility, while Oliver Jeffers’ Where to Hide a Star becomes a sparkling celebration of friendship featuring live classical music performed by Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Global beat-boxing phenomenon Tom Thum and keys wizard Tnee Dyer will teach students how to turn any sound into music in Permission Granted. For older students, Write Now Festival is a one-day event helping aspiring writers discover career pathways.

Festival highlights

• Giant Marble Run in Elder Park, made from upcycled broomsticks, lampshades, piping, bamboo and more. A ridiculously fun invention challenging children to think outside the box.
• COSMIC COSMOS, an interactive installation where children are recruited to welcome hundreds of microscopic aliens to Earth and build their new tiny homes.
• The Heart Beat Club, a high-energy daytime dance party hosted by Tutti Arts’ Beats Crew, celebrating what makes us all unique by encouraging young people to join the fun in their own way.

What the organisers say

Festival Director Georgi Paech said: “I see DreamBIG as a tool to connect children to curiosity, imagination, their community, the wider world, and of course, the arts. The DreamBIG team hopes that together we can create a constellation of creativity across South Australia in 2027.”

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould added: “At Adelaide Festival Centre, we are dedicated to providing every South Australian child quality arts and cultural experiences. For DreamBIG Children’s Festival 2027, we look forward to welcoming students from across South Australia to our venues and beyond, as we unite and celebrate the things that join us together.”

Booking information

Full details for the schools program can be found at dreambigfestival.com.au. The families and general public program will be revealed in January.

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This animated feature tells the story of Vincent, a teenage humpback whale carrying a heavy burden. As the orphaned son of the last Whale Singer, whose magical song once protected all the world’s oceans, Vincent is expected to step into his father’s role. But grief and self-doubt have left him questioning whether he has what it takes.

An epic underwater journey

When the monstrous Leviathan escapes from a melting iceberg and threatens all marine life with its poisonous ink, Vincent faces an impossible choice. Rather than trusting his own abilities, he embarks on a perilous journey to the deepest point of the sea. His plan? To reach the mythical Star Pool and bring his parents back from the beyond, hoping his father can defeat the Leviathan in his place.

It’s the kind of logic that makes perfect sense when you’re young and scared and missing your parents desperately. And it’s a premise that will resonate with children navigating their own big feelings about growing up and finding their place in the world.

An unlikely crew

Vincent doesn’t make this journey alone. He’s joined by Walter, his finicky remora fish nanny who provides plenty of comic relief, and Darya, a brave deaf orca who proves that courage comes in many forms. Together, this unlikely trio must navigate the ocean’s dangers while Vincent slowly discovers that the song he’s searching for has been inside him all along.

The inclusion of Darya as a deaf character brings meaningful representation to the screen. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing will see themselves reflected in a character who is brave, capable and central to the story’s success.

Themes that matter

Beneath the stunning underwater visuals and adventure-packed plot, The Last Whale Singer explores themes that families can discuss long after the credits roll. Self-belief, grief, environmental stewardship and the courage to find your own voice are woven throughout the narrative.

The environmental message feels particularly timely. With the Leviathan emerging from a melting iceberg, the film gently introduces younger viewers to concepts around climate change and ocean conservation without being heavy-handed. It’s a springboard for conversations about why protecting our oceans matters.

Perfect timing for Adelaide families

The September release couldn’t be better timed for South Australian families. Not only does it land right in the school holidays, but it coincides with the peak of the southern right whale and humpback whale migration season along our coast. Between August and October, these magnificent creatures travel past the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Nullarbor and the Great Australian Bight.

Consider pairing your cinema outing with some real-life whale watching. Victor Harbor and the Encounter Coast offer some of the best land-based viewing spots in the country. After watching Vincent’s animated journey, seeing an actual humpback breach in the wild takes on a whole new magic.

What you need to know

• Release date: Wednesday 24 September 2025
• Perfect for: Primary school-aged children and families
• Themes: Self-belief, courage, friendship, ocean conservation
• Running time: Check local cinema listings for session times

Mark The Last Whale Singer in your school holiday plans. It’s shaping up to be the kind of film that sparks imagination, prompts meaningful conversations and might just inspire the next generation of ocean advocates.

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Childhood today is optimised at every turn – earlier starts, earlier assessments, earlier intervention, at every stage of development. Somewhere in that rush, it’s easy to forget that children have always known how to learn. They arrive already equipped with curiosity: an instinct to chase what interests them and take in exactly what their developing brain needs, in its own time.

So how do we stop overcomplicating the early years, and instead trust children’s own ability to learn and grow? By getting back to basics – to the years before learning was handed over to screens and apps. Slowing down with our children doesn’t just support their natural curiosity. It nurtures both of your nervous systems, builds resilience and patience, and encourages a gentler relationship with the world around them.

Early learning always starts at home. The direct family unit and the home-base environment are where children first learn their view of the world and what meaning they associate with it. Somewhere along the way we lost sight of what truly matters: the simple things in life.

Time at home

Making unhurried time at home a regular part of the weekly schedule is one of the simplest ways to slow things down – no rushing, no rescheduling around it, just space to be. Home, it turns out, might be the key all along.

• Allowing time to get engrossed in play for hours, uninterrupted.
• Doing things together. Being a part of a team in a family home by learning how to do little tasks along the way that are developmentally suitable and that they seem intrinsically drawn to. Including them when they seem intrigued.
• Having time for connection and deeper conversations.
• Learning new skills together.

The ideas are endless and can really be as unique as your family. Having larger pockets of time that don’t require any rigid schedules or somewhere to be, other than together, is such a powerful tool for a family to have in this modern world. It builds stronger neural pathways from a young age. It increases their sense of safety around a space that provides consistency, meaningful connections with familiar people, and a pace that doesn’t require constant transitioning. It builds resilience and patience when children have the time in their day to problem-solve within their environment, get engrossed in uninterrupted play, and learn that things take time when done at their own natural pace.

Embracing the natural world

Mother Earth has so much to offer, especially when we nurture it and instil a love of nature from a young age. It starts with learning how to embrace nature. There are things we can do to work alongside it instead of against it. And it means making our environment and community something to look after and nurture.

• Getting out in the garden. Whatever that looks like for your family. Whether that means growing something in containers for smaller spaces, growing vegetables in an existing bed, or joining your local community garden.
• Taking walks in nature around your home, local park or closeby national parks and trails. Slowing down to take in the natural surroundings and truly appreciate it.

There are literally so many ways to protect early childhood from the hustle culture. By giving children the pace and tools they need to not rush through or optimise their development, we can prioritise meaningful childhoods over busier childhoods.

Taking a slower approach to early childhood encourages us all to take a step back from lives driven by productivity and look at life through the lens of little ones – the whimsy they see, the natural intrigue they have, and the curiosities they follow. It encourages development that sees the world as a place of natural pace rather than a source of instant gratification and constant entertainment, resulting in benefits that go far beyond their early years.

Find out more:
nannycryssie.com.au | @nanny.cryssie

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