We began the frostiest day this term finding new ways to play within the changed environment. Frozen features around the field became fun new parts to play with, as thick ice was discovered in the dips and receptacles. With gloved fingers and tools, the children cracked and crunched the surfaces making dozens of brand new bits and pieces to play with. Ice became treasure, coins, and larger ingredients for recipes, whilst glistening scrapings from surfaces soon became cake sprinkles and unicorn food! The cold could be a challenge for some, but our well wrapped children are always encouraged or drawn into play full of fun movement. This included several dozen rounds of tempting a hungry Mr.Wolf with tasty children for dinner, many tours of an extra long obstacle course, and joyful jumping jelly bean dancing. Educators have also been demonstrating other techniques to warm up including blowing air into cupped hands or simply clapping them or shaking them.
Another wide game played this week in the forest was a letter hunt that everyone was involved in. Here, educators hid laminated letter cards all around the site which children had to find, then match up and tick off on a master sheet. Everyone did so well recognising the forms, with some recognising their initials or those of family, while others could identify similarities in shape or noticed the position of bars, strokes, stems and arms on the characters. Fun was had by all and we look forward to continuing this game and repeating it with numbers too.
Games like this help the children to take ownership of their first letters and because they take such pride in them we are beginning to see that some children are beginning to recognise each others initials too. We have also noted this week that more and more children are asking to have their name written on their art work, or have been asking for support to have a go themselves which is great to see.
This week in the forest, educators also decided to challenge children by extending the rope walks across several more trees, and up one slope then down another. First, brave educators demonstrated techniques and the best way round which children observed and listened in to well. Soon children were showing us great perseverance to step up, and pull up onto position to get started. Educators carried on motivating, to keep the pace going on the course as several children went round at once. We are always also impressed by the way children have grown to understand that other children might make the ropes wobble, and when that does happen, excellent coordination and gross motor strength kicks in to deal with the extra wobbles!
We’ve wound down some of the evenings this week telling the children sat around the Bowling Club Christmas tree, a wonderful story from European Folklore. This came about as children spotted a spider dangling from a windowsill, which helped to inspire Dan to relay the “Legend of the Christmas Spider” that we were all fascinated with!
We imagine things are starting to get a little festive at home too, and we hope your weekend is as full of as much cheer as we’ve had here this week.
Little Forest Folk
Wandsworth