Every week our forest starts to look a little different as everything prepares for the winter months that await. Squirrels become braver in their search for a dropped crumb as they start to stockpile in order to get through hibernation, our children can see higher into the plane tree as her crown begins to drop and parakeets which hide within her are exposed for all to see. There are also so many conkers and plane tree seed to make beautiful artwork with!
Our Little Forest Folk-ers appear to be enthralled with role play this week and it began with some requesting to build a hospital. When asked what they would need, one child thought carefully and with clear logic explained "Let's start with the beds and then we can add the machinery!". With that, there were many helping hands to assist Xiao to get the resources they needed - pillows, fabric for blankets and when they found some notebooks the children said, "We can use these to sign people in".
A pallet board was laid down and beds were made. Then, with the use of a Sharpie, a wooden board was transformed into a laptop, "This will tell us what is wrong with the patient, and what medicine we need!" the children said. While the laptop was installed into the tree beside the ward, a tyre was placed on top of a log, "This is where...when you take the blood out the patient's arm...you put it in and you can watch it spin around....round and round. Then you take it out and give it back to the patient."
Suddenly, the hospital became very busy with patients and the builders took on the role of the Doctors. There children utilised a range of objects around them (sticks were used as torches and injections) and armed with their notebooks the Doctors set to work, taking bloods, placing them in the machine, scribbling notes in their books, returning to the patients with a chirpy, "I have your blood back....here you go"
"But what is wrong with me?"
"You ate a fly, but it has gone now"
When one patient arrived and declared they were growing a baby, a torch light was shone into the patient's mouth, "Oh yeah...I can see the baby's heartbeat from here...and one of their arms!". A few seconds later, a swaddled piece of fabric was placed in the new parent's arms. When one of the doctors reverted back into a builder and asked, "How is the hospital going" they were informed that baby beds would now be needed. This began the building of an extension - another ward was built but this time with beds made from Sainsburys’ delivery crates. This process of adding and extending continued throughout the week.
Not all children wanted to be Doctors and it was observed how some children had become fascinated with Miriam’s hair, and pretending sticks were combs and scissors, began to give her a new hairdo. Xiao discovered a training hairdresser head with very long blond hair, and she was set up in the forest hair salon. A collection of hairbrushes was supplied, and the children didn't stand on ceremony. The children did that wonderful thing they do when they find play invites that match their interests, they make it so much more than could have been planned for. Instead of just brushing her hair, they went off in search of their own items to add to the salon. A large flexi-tub of water was moved in place, a little hand soap and some cups and soon the training head was enjoying a wonderful hair wash. Lather, rinse, repeat. As she was washed, she may have fallen into the mud a few times and it amused the educators that the more she was washed, the dirtier she looked. She was thus named 'Dusty'. However, the children were only just warming up! Some children went away and found other children at the art table with some clay. They came back to the salon with a little of the clay and began to smear it over her face, "We are giving her a mud mask....my mummy does it". When the children asked for some scissors - the educators thought this would be a good chance to practice those lovely physical skills such as operating tools with one hand and some paper scissors where supplied. Under supervision, the children completely transformed Dusty with a makeover that left her...unrecognisable!
We have had a busy week being builders, doctors, beauty therapists, thinkers, talkers and negotiators and our Little Forest Folk-ers have reminded us just how awesome Autumn days spent with them in the great outdoors can be. We hope you have a great weekend and see you all next week!
Little Forest Folk
Twickenham