Understanding the Impact of Play on Children’s Behaviour and Growth

Play is not just a fun activity for children – it is a crucial element of their development that significantly impacts behaviour. Whether indoors or outdoors, play helps children develop cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills, which ultimately shape how they interact with the world around them. Here, we explore how different types of play, particularly nature-based play, influence child behaviour.

From Baby Llamas to Beautiful Landscapes: Debbie Laporte’s Journey to Designing Places People Love

From One Call to a Career in Landscape Architecture. What followed was what Debbie calls a “mid-uni crisis.” On her mum’s advice — and without a smartphone to Google options — she turned to a career quiz and the Yellow Pages. The quiz pointed to landscape architecture, a field she’d never heard of. Taking a leap, she closed her eyes, pointed to a listing, and made a call. It changed everything.

More than 20 years later, Debbie is the founding director of Orterra, a Brisbane-based landscape architecture practice.