This week our Little Forest Folk-ers have been very busy and making the most of the slightly drier conditions to participate in lots of fun arts and craft activities. In particular, they have had the chance to work with malleable materials such as clay and playdough, shaping both into different creatures or using it to create representations of items from their own environment such as food, toys and letters of the alphabet. The children assisted in making the playdough itself, and we added rosemary and mint found in our garden to give the dough a lovely aroma and to add an additional sensory experience to the activity. This inspired one child to produce a batch of tasty playdough meatballs which proved a big hit with her hungry friends! Whilst these activities provide lots of opportunity for the children to engage in imaginative play, they also help them to work on their fine motor skills, which are crucial when it comes to learning to write.
In true Little Forest Folk style, we have enjoyed getting the hammers out to hammer nails into a plank of wood. Each child got the chance to space out a handful of nails and then hammer them into the wood, stretching elastic bands over them once finished. After each child had completed the activity we hung the plank of wood in the forest as an example of the unique opportunities our Forest Folk-ers have to develop practical skills in a fun and safe environment.
We have made use of our junk modelling resources this week to experiment with different ways of using paint. In particular, the children liked decorating boxes by flicking, dabbing, rubbing and using our fingers and hands. This resulted in some wonderfully colourful patterns, and once the boxes were dry the children sat in them! Arty box outfits are the latest must-have in this part of London!
The children have been feeling rather theatrical this week. Our new animal finger puppets have proved very popular, with lots of volunteers helping to entertain their friends. The performances were so frequent we decided to design and build our own stage (such pros). We also used large wooden pegs and leftover pieces of fabric to make our very own ‘King’s and Queen’s’ complete with extravagant royal cloaks and gowns.
With lots of changes in the air, the educators have encouraged the children to explore and discuss their feelings. In one activity, we made a circle and each child held on to a piece of string. They were then asked to think of something nice to say to one of their friends who then received the string too. This created a feelings ‘spider’s web’, with all our children joined together by their kind and positive words to each other. On this occasion, complimenting each other on their clothing was the most common way they found to express kindness to their fellow Forest Folk-ers. Some of our children have also chosen to bring in their favourite books from home in for their friends to see and listen to. Whilst we are stocked full of many fantastic stories, it is lovely for them to share their own favourites. What is more valuable than a treasured book? Why not ask your child what their favourite book is and share your own favourites from when you were a child?
Taking their inspiration from the Tokyo Olympics, our children have been finding ways to exercise and stay active. They have enjoyed working together to create a variety of different obstacle courses, involving hurdles, balancing beams, jumping over and into large and small tyres and crawling under wooden planks. One child found a box of bottle tops from the art table and gave them out as ‘medals’ to all the winners. Good effort Forest Folk-ers!
Little Forest Folk
Twickenham