Melting snow
Over the weekend we were finally blessed with some belated snow (we never seem lucky enough to get it on Christmas!), which has left the forest dappled with gorgeous snow patches, icy puddles, frosty grass and the remnants of a weekend spent building snowmen. The adventure walks have had new life breathed into them by the change in appearance and feel of the gardens. Our little eskimos and explorers have relished crunching the snow beneath their feet, making snow angels, hurling it at their educators, shattering frozen puddles and watching it all slowly melt away.
The melting snow has invited plenty of thought into the shifting seasons and how the weather actually works (even the educators didn’t have all the answers!) as well as themed play. We have had plenty of role-playing homages to a little film called Frozen, you probably haven’t heard of it, where children used their ice powers for good (and occasionally mischief - please unfreeze me there are things to do!).
As the temperatures mellow out and there is extra water on our sites the mud kitchens have become bustling hubs of cooking and commerce with huge quantities of cakes, pies, soups and stews being served up by our busy cooks.
We have really enjoyed getting cozy in our reading nooks (this week decorated with twinkling fairy lights beneath our tarpaulins) and listening to our ever-rotating collection of stories, and even attempted one in French (ooh la la!).
Building has once more been a popular fixture. This week we have seen incredible lodgings built in the forest, always incorporating natural materials, but like snowflakes, each one is completely unique. The best thing about our forest homes is that they are multi-purpose and can act as somewhere to hide, make food, rest, debate and renovate!
The paints and chalks were again out in full force this week as our miniature Pablo Picasso's and Frida Kahlo's painted the forest red. Tarpaulins, leaves, logs, teachers; no one was safe from the brushes of our industrious artists! When free abstract expression becomes played out, we also have tried our hand again at writing our letters and numbers, especially the ones that are relevant to our favourite people and our age.
We also welcome the return of some children who have been away from the nursery for a while; it is always a joy to have them back in our forest family and see them reconnect with their friends and environment.
We hope you all had a great week, we certainly did. In these difficult times it is so helpful to take the lead of the children and try and live in the moment, enjoying the present. Remember - don’t count the days, make the days count! I will leave you with what I feel is a very relevant quote from one of my favourite philosophers.
“What day is it?” asked Pooh.
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favourite day,” said Pooh.”
Have lovely weekends all!
Little Forest Folk
Chiswick