This week in the forest started stormy and ended in crisp sunshine and it’s been a privilege to see our little adventurers playing their hearts out in all kinds of weather.

Although we spent time inside during the high winds, we were back out to enjoy the massive muddy puddles once calmer weather came. The adventurers loved sloshing through, protected by their wellies and waterproofs.

We also arrived in the forest to find a ‘fire’ in the mud kitchen! The children were quick to help out, phoning 999 to call the fire brigade. Once the ‘fire engine’ came, they were all hands-on-deck, grabbing buckets and hoses to come to the rescue. This resulted in some wonderful problem solving as the children looked all around the garden to find sources of water to collect for the emergency.

Then of course on Wednesday it was Lunar New Year, and we enjoyed celebrating it with a big representation of the Great Race with all 12 zodiac animals. This was a great provocation for our little ones to practice their counting, first counting the animals, then focusing on the numbered wooden medals and turning them to count the individual dots they found there. We also enjoyed a lovely New Year activity with Sarah, painting red and yellow fireworks with pine branches onto a big white sheet.

We’ve continued to hone our fine motor skills by whittling our own chopsticks to use in our mud kitchen. This week it has been transformed into Bunny’s Noodle Bar. We’ve also spent some mindful moments moulding clay snakes to celebrate the Year of the Snake. And the adventurers have been in sensory heaven, scooping and measuring rainbow rice to make their own percussion instruments. This week has been a real workout for little fingers!

Little Forest Folk
Winkworth