Helen Little

Helen Little is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood in the School of Education at Macquarie University, where she has been since 2001. Prior to this, she worked as an early childhood teacher in Sydney's preschools and primary schools. Her research focuses on individual, social, and environmental factors influencing children’s engagement in risk-taking during outdoor play, particularly how outdoor environments and teaching practices shape these experiences. She teaches courses on outdoor learning, child development, and early childhood pedagogy at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, emphasizing physical and motor development. Helen is a member of Early Childhood Australia, Play Australia, and the International Play Association, and holds PARS Playwork Practice qualifications.

Her key research projects include studying pandemic impacts on children’s outdoor activities (China-Australia collaboration), exploring toddlers’ rituals through risky play, and evaluating urban initiatives like Play Streets. She leads or co-leads projects such as 'Intentional Teaching to Promote Risk Competency' (2024–2027) and 'Facilitators or Barriers: Influence of COVID-19 on Outdoor Activity' (2021–2024). Her work bridges theory and practice, advocating for balanced approaches to risk and safety in children’s play environments.

Teaching responsibilities include coordinating and lecturing in units like EDST2550 (Outdoors as a Learning Environment) and ECHE6020 (Early Childhood Development). Helen’s articles highlight trends in risky play research, pandemic-related restrictions on outdoor access, and innovative methods to assess risk experiences. She emphasizes outdoor pedagogy’s role in fostering holistic child development and collaborates internationally on projects addressing climate change and community engagement.

Her involvement in the Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre underscores her commitment to interdisciplinary work on child health and wellbeing. Helen’s projects often address practical challenges, such as redesigning play spaces and navigating neighborhood opposition to urban play initiatives, while advocating for policies that prioritize children’s active outdoor experiences.