Children at the new centre will be encouraged to take risks - they'll climb trees, play in cubbyhouses and have a creek to explore.
But there are concerns that allowing children so much freedom could result in a paradise for lawyers.
The paranoia of modern parents means helicopter mums and dads hover over their cotton wool wrapped kids 24-7.
More stories from Today TonightBut some, like parenting rebel America’s Lenore Skenazy believe it's time to let them fend for themselves. It’s a view which has seen her branded the world's worst mother.
Childcare expert Barrie Elvish agrees and thinks “it’s better perhaps for a child to have a broken arm than a broken spirit.”
Elvish runs more than 400 childcare centres and plans to revolutionise the industry in Australia.
At a time when educators are taking safety measures to the extreme by banning some children from doing cartwheels and even hugging, Elvish is embracing a philosophy where boundaries are extended, and kids are allowed to climb trees and play in cubbyhouses.
Elvish believes that children should be in touch with nature, and allowing kids to run around outside and learn for themselves is the next big thing in revolutionising childcare centres.
“It brings them outdoors, puts them back in touch with nature, and it gives them the opportunity to engage in some things which for them may be challenging,” he said.
More stories from reporter Neil Doorley
Lawyer Peter Eardley says childcare centres are being turned into legal minefields - by parents keen to sue.
“In any environment where you have young children, there are risks that need to be assessed. There’s a huge range of potential problems,” Eardley said.
However, this has not stopped Elvish from defending his view when asked about insurance and how his childcare centres will protect the children.“We're hoping we get an insurance company to cover us, and we believe they will,” he said.
Elvish believes that their strongest advocates are the parents who want a childhood for their children like they experienced, and plenty of parents seem happy with the idea of going back to the future.
Psychologist Jodie Benveniste thinks it is important for kids to explore and make mistakes, as well as take risks.
Parents seem to be fine with the new technique, and saying that it’s a good way to learn and a way the children learn to have fun. Some parents do think they are a little too safe these days about what they let their children do.
According to Benveniste “some of the principles of giving our kids a bit of extra space and allowing them to explore, you know, they're good principles. Sometimes taking a step backwards allows kids that space they need to make mistakes and learn from them.”
Elvish says the extra supervision planned for his centre won't come at an extra cost for parents. His aim is to make sure the children are able to run around and enjoy what nature provides for them.
“We don't want to see this as an elitist, premium gold plated service,” he said.
And it's not just children who'll benefit.
“We want this service to be a place where educators come and learn what can be done in a good outdoor environment,” Elvish said.
While he admits red tape could prevent the green space getting off the ground, he is still confident. “We’ll challenge and we'll keep challenging, and we'll get the parents engaged, so they're on our side, because really if the parents want it, children want it.”
Would you enroll your kids to take part in the outdoor learning experience?This reporter is on Twitter at @NDoorley
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