As a wintery chill gripped the forest this week, the children have been warming their spirits with lots of festive fun.
Both the Foxes and the Parakeets rolled up their sleeves and got hands on making their own salt dough. They helped measure out the flour and salt, carefully transporting cups of the ingredients and mixing in water and testing the consistency - adding more water or flour as needed. There was great excitement as they got to knead the dough, talking about how it felt in their hands as they squeezed and squished it.
Christmas cookie cutters were on hand and soon little gingerbread men, Christmas trees and Stars sat in a warm oven.
Paints, Glues and sequins turned these pale little salt cookies into magnificent tree decorations and all the educators had their hearts melted when one little girl screamed at the top of her lungs "Everyone look! I made a gingerbread man!"
In the Foxes bubble, the children found a perfect tree to decorate as a Christmas tree. They hung their salt dough decorations together with silver baubles and tinsel to make the tree look fabulous! However, later in the week, the children noted a bush they thought could do with a makeover, as well as the den, and what about this brown little stick? With that, a team effort was initiated to transport the decorations and tinsel to give the entire forest a little of the Christmas sparkle!
When not engrossed in their landscape design, the children have been working with Kelly to make some forest inspired Christmas cards. Each child found a special leaf they loved the most and got to paint it any colour they liked before sticking it to their card and adorning it with sequins and other forest items. Some children didn't need inspiration for the Christmas cards and had amazing ideas of their own. One child said "On my Christmas card I want to draw the tubes that take the water I drink down to my Kidneys" You probably won't find Kidney tube Christmas card ideas on Pinterest but this is what makes working with our children so magical.
The parakeets have also continued their festive fun with pine cones - pushing and squeezing mini pom-poms into the nooks until the cones looked like little trees - bejewelled with colourful baubles.
Kitchen towel rolls were saved from the bin and were used for Olaf inspired snowmen. Their cute personalities sat upon their Christmas tree and watched as children went on a treasure hunt for leaves that had been painted gold and hidden within their site - shouts of "I found one Miranda!" echoing around.
We hope you all have magical weekends and we look forward to opening the forest next week for a week of Christmas party fun where Christmas and Channukah will come to life!
Little Forest Folk
Twickenham