The forest has been full of this wonderful late summer sun and the children have really been making the most of it!
Walking into the forest each day the children enjoy a mini adventure at their own pace. Sometimes they look out for wildlife. On one day we spotted some squirrels and heard a woodpecker nearby. The children eager to hear what was out there, went quiet and then noticed lots of other sounds. The thrush rustling the leaves, the robins, blackbirds and parakeets singing their songs and the pitter patter of their own footsteps. At other times the children were already engrossed in role-play games amongst each other. A favourite at the moment is to pretend to go on our walk-o-dile and help everyone cross the road!
Each day a variety of role-play games are invented, and the children start entering the fanstastical worlds that fill their imaginations. A running theme this week was vehicles that turned into beds. The children used logs, planks and blankets to make their very own flatbeds raised off the ground. Sometimes baby monsters all huddled together trying to get some space in their tiny bedrooms in the sun and at other times there were dinosaur families or characters from the Thundercats who got together to lay down for a sleep.
For a creative splurge we have brought out to the forest some fabric paints and lots of small pieces of fabric. The children have been exploring these and creating their own mini flags which will form a new length of bunting to decorate the forest with. The children showed intense concentration as they got creative with these new materials. Each flag is unique and has a wonderful range of colour, texture and shape!
As the children grow in confidence so too does their ability to negotiate risks, both physical and emotional. New children are plucking up the courage to engage in role-play games and interact independently with their new friends. Other children have been showing more resilience when things don’t go their way and an increasing ability to negotiate with each other. All of the children are showing off their fabulous skills in balancing and this week we have had the wobbly bridge and balance log with a tight rope above. It’s incredible to see how confident the children are at tackling new challenges.
With the children now settled into their new groups we are all looking forward to going on some wonderful adventures with the children next week, we cannot wait! Have a magical weekend all!
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath