As the canopy thins above us, the scampering squirrels, “caw-cawing” crows and mischievous magpies have been highly visible and within log circle sessions we’ve had some great close-up experiences as they search for food around us. The barer branches above have revealed a few of the spring nests that were filled with cheeping chatter a few months ago and children have been inspired to build their own nests from natural materials. With various experimental pushing, pulling, scraping, and carrying techniques, children supported by educators have formed leaves into circular shapes around each other. Some children found pinecones to be their eggs and others chirped and cheeped for worms (twigs) from practitioners!
Creative play, extended on from the enjoyment and discovery last week over on the art tarps. Here, children were encouraged by Katie to glue natural parts onto shapes and their respective letter names. We loved the creativity of a team who worked together to design an eye, inspired by a spread of books about the human body. Stones were placed for pupils, leaves for the iris, and thin twigs for eyelashes which were all bonded to a large piece of card; it really did look great!
This week we have also been able to enjoy our brand-new swing over on the bowling field. Sofia carefully knotted a tyre onto the new frame and it’s already a much-loved addition to this site. Similarly in the forest, Sam brought in some old bicycle tyres which amongst other uses have been suspended between trees to swing from. As well as being great fun, swing areas like these create an environment for developing good sharing alongside independence around personal safety and the safety of friends. Our larger swing areas, like the aforementioned tyre one, are “fenced” off with red rope pegged into the ground which children are shown not to cross until it is their turn, with older children often helping to support educators here too. During the laugh laden playfulness, as children ‘wheeeee’ through the air, we enrich chat with counts of swings or seconds to help everyone consider ideas around time and fairness. These are just some of the many life skills we know our children can transfer from here and practice in the world outside Little Forest Folk Wandsworth on their many other adventures with family and friends.
Have a great weekend everyone and we’ll see you all soon for another lovely dry and sunny week fingers crossed!
Little Forest Folk
Wandsworth