Lauren, Kenny, and the Business of Bringing Kids Back to Nature

Join us for an inspiring episode as we follow Lauren’s journey from passionate educator to founder of a thriving nature play business. Discover how Lauren’s love for the outdoors—and a very special goat named Kenny—sparked a mission to reconnect children with nature in a world dominated by screens and schedules.

Hear heartfelt stories about the challenges facing today’s kids, the magic that happens when children are free to explore, and the lessons Lauren learned along the way. From muddy adventures to building a business rooted in kindness, community, and curiosity, this episode is a celebration of childhood, resilience, and the unexpected ways animals like Kenny can change our lives.

Tune in for laughter, insight, and a reminder that sometimes, the best classrooms have grass, sunshine, and a goat or two.

Catch Tina in the OmMade Wellness Hub

https://www.instagram.com/ommadewellnesshub/

See what Lauren is up to at Eco Play Therapy

https://www.instagram.com/ecoplaytherapy/

Let Cassie Concierge your life at Soluna Concierge. Currently on a break but relaunching soon.

https://www.instagram.com/soluna_concierge/

Transcript

Tina: Wow. Where did all this begin? 

Lauren: And now I'm freaking out.

Cassie: You know, the world that we live in now, it's so artificial and they've got screens and look, you know, that's part of the future and everything, but children are children. They need to make a mud pie, get dirty, not have to worry about you know, this world of technology.

Lauren: The conference is some, I actually. Cried. So I went to this conference, Nature Play SA and we were in the wine centre in Adelaide for a big so guest speakers came out and they spoke to us about what nature play is and the childhood crisis that we face right now, which you mentioned—screen time, kids inside, all the disorders and all the diagnoses that we are seeing on the rise.

Lauren: Really hit home that we are in a crisis right now with childhood.

Lauren: It's surprising what you see when they come out here. These are sometimes children that in a classroom situation, may not be able to focus or you may not see their best behavior. They can't perhaps sit still. Not that children should be sitting still, but anyway, different things that you think, I wonder how they're gonna be when they come up in this environment. Amazing. So happy, having the best time, just engaged, just really positive, completely different child than what you'd see maybe in a school setting or a preschool setting so that's really interesting for me to see.

Lauren: Use all that energy, burn it off, go home, sleep. You know, that's how childhood should be.

Cassie: These are children and we are sitting them in the classroom pushed up to a desk. I, of course you've gotta learn, of course we need education, but that's not how children just switch off.

Lauren: I asked my mum to buy spinach when she did her shopping. 'Cause I love spinach now. It fills my bucket so much. It brings me so much joy.

Lauren: I didn't realize how many families don't sit around the table and eat dinner together.

Lauren: Parents are working. They're busy, they're time poor. This is no one's fault. This is our society. But if you're not getting it in the home and you're not getting in it in the school, where are you getting it? I know I can't save everyone, but I think that's a bit of my drive.

Cassie: Children that, yeah, may struggle with concentration. Suddenly they were laser focused and working in a group and it just was, yeah. So amazing to see.

Lauren: You are out here in nature. You go out and collect and find nature, and then you build a structure and you work together as a team.

Lauren: This is the thing is that I do believe in myself now. It's taken me probably to this year to believe in myself. I do think I have something pretty special.

Lauren: I mean, the things I'm passionate about, animals. I love animals. We have animals here. If kids, if all they want is animals, I can offer that. We've got guinea pigs, we've got goats, alpacas, pony, sheep, chickens, all sorts of things.

Lauren: So just because I love it doesn't mean that everyone else is gonna love it. So I don't push it.

Lauren: But my play therapy is outside in nature. I don't, I think that's quite unique.

Lauren: Kids are so precious these days because parents are so precious these days. Oh, it's raining, you're gonna get wet.

Lauren: Get inside. Oh, it's hot. You might get sunburnt, get inside. Oh, don't do that. Oh, don't climb that tree. You might fall out and hurt yourself. Seriously, get outside.

Lauren: So Kenny was going to be a pie or a curry for sure. And I looked at this gorgeous little goat and thought, that is not your destiny. You are not gonna be a pie. You're gonna come home with me.

Lauren: What, what am I doing? I've got, he's peeing, he's baaing, he's pooing. I think I've made a big mistake here.

Lauren: He, he was so stinky, my car stunk. Got back home. My kids were all here. My kids, my adult kids instantly fell in love with him. We bathed him. We love him. The rest is history really.

Lauren: I was at a family thing going banging on and on about Kenny. He's amazing. He's the best pet I've ever had. I love him. He's soft, blah blah. He's gorgeous.

Lauren: It's not about a business or money or me getting, you know. Me being known. It's, it's just about being kind and being good people and living a wholesome life and being healthy and yeah, that's, and I think because it's coming from that place, I'm on the right track, I'm on the right path.

Lauren: Imaginations left behind. No more eyes with wonder. Spark or glowing cheeks from dawn to dark. They fidget, twist and yearn to roam because their hearts are calling home. But home is not walls or silent screens. It's sun, it's clouds, it's grass so green.