It’s been well-documented that modern life can be quite toxic for our children. Sue Palmer wrote brilliantly about this prior to the pandemic and the last few years have escalated many of the barriers to learning that she raised in her book, Toxic Childhood. An increase in screen time, poor diet and sleep patterns, and …
You’re never too young to get involved with forest schools! Toddlers can learn huge amounts in simple outdoor forest environments. I’ve been teaching in forest schools over the course of the last ten years on and off, and in that time I’ve found some real gems of activities that work perfectly for toddlers. In this …
Is your child going through the stage when they want to tip everything out? Do they seem to tip over anything and everything in their path? You might find this hard to believe, but the answer to get them through this stage quickly is to provide lots more filling and emptying activities in as many …
Fantastic…oozy…gooey…squelchy…sloppy…mud! Is there anything greater when you’re in preschool? I doubt it! I’ve watched kids experiment with all kinds of mud experiences and activities over the last decade, and in this post, I’ll share my all-time favorite 17 mud activities for preschoolers! Let’s get straight into it… 1. Mud Hedgehogs Who said mud can’t create …
If you haven’t yet tried a Forest school approach with your children, then you should know that the benefits are quite staggering. These are benefits that are backed up by both practice and research. I’ve been involved in forest schools for the best part of twenty years. In that time, I would say that the …
Winter in a Forest school can be beautiful and as long as everyone is wrapped up warm (and that includes the adults too) it can provide plenty of opportunities for awe and wonder. Just imagine… Silvery cobwebs covered in twinkling frost The first untouched blanket of soft snow Exposed birds nests at the top of …
Article by Esther Evans and Meghan Caissie There has never been a better time to use the outdoors for learning! Connecting with nature and being creative are both proven ways to improve children’s wellbeing. (Source) As seasoned forest school teachers, we know that children are eager learners in any environment and any weather, which is …
There are so many children these days that are obsessed with superheroes. Superhero play infiltrates everything: games involving the Three Little Pigs are suddenly invaded by the Hulk and Spider Man. Many practitioners are learning that superhero play is probably something better to work with, rather than stamp out. If the children are so passionately …
Tool play is so important for children, and develops many key skills and abilities. Using tools in forest school allows children to experience danger in the form of risky equipment. You can find out many more examples of risky play in this article. It helps them to manage risk, and become completely involved in the …