There has been a very serene and calm atmosphere in the forest this week, if your version of serene includes Bat Girls jumping over logs as they case Iron Men and do imaginary battle scenes while screaming ‘Pow! Bang! Karate Chop!” For some, this version of serene wouldn’t fit the typical definition but in a world that is in crisis, and being vigilant of children who may be showing signs of anxiety, we found serenity in watching children do the most important thing they can…being blissfully engrossed in the joys of being children!
So while the face paints and consequent role play remained ever popular this week, some of our children relished the opportunity to do some tool work.
We have noticed our children have been interested in taking sticks and changing their appearance, with the help of Miranda they have carefully wound wool around them to make them an assortment of colours. We took this interest and introduced the children to whittling. They used potato peelers, and practiced safe practice (using a glove on the hand that hold the wood, how to safely hold and angle the wood and how to work in a downwards motion away from their bodies.) This immediate cause and effect was fascinating for these children who all showed a fantastic level of concentration. Soon, these sticks where further changed with the use of coloured pens and they took on special powers as children ran off with them, their new play props ready for action!
As children have been loving the sweet potato and coconut soup, Miranda has been helping the children learn a new song called “Mrs Murphey’s Chowder” about a woman who makes a soup from the most unusual ingredients, including ice cream, cold cream, mistakes, tummy aches, bed slat, democrats, cow bells and door bells! The children have been finding the lyrics hysterical.
We have been reviewing our trees and flowers we have been planting and children have been exited to see the new leaves that are sprouting out of the saplings. We have been using the identification books to try and name the trees and a beautiful moment occurred when we exclaimed ‘Oh! This one is a Rowan Tree!” only for a child to say ‘No! It’s actually my tree!”
We can’t argue with that!
We hope you are all going to look after yourselves, stay healthy and strong and we look forward to opening our doors to you all as soon as we possibly can.
Little Forest Folk
Twickenham