Our Week in the Forest
Despite the chilly air settling around us today, the children embraced the outdoors with enthusiasm and warmth, filling the forest with creativity, laughter and energetic play.
Morning Adventures: Building, Pretending & Moving to Stay Warm
The week began with an exciting return to our Three Little Pigs role-play. Using cardboard, paint and buckets of imagination, the children worked together to build their very own straw, stick and brick houses. Long golden brushstrokes transformed card into “straw,” while bold red squares made strong “brick” walls. As they built, the children chatted animatedly about the big bad wolf, tested the strength of their creations and supported one another through problem-solving and teamwork.
To keep ourselves warm in the crisp morning air, we mixed in bursts of energetic movement - jumping, stretching, running on the spot and shaking out our arms and legs. There were wiggling worms, stomping giants and plenty of shared giggles as everyone warmed up from head to toe.
Our imaginative streak continued as the forest was transformed into a building site, with the children pretending to be the Three Little Pigs hiding from the wolf. We also acted out We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, moving through long grass, thick mud and swirling snow together.
Music, Dance & Joyful Voices
The morning flowed into lively music and movement. We counted our fingers and toes, wiggling and tapping them in time with the rhythm, before bursting into song with Apples and Bananas. The children explored vowel sounds, experimenting with the “a,” “ee,” and “oo” sounds, filling the forest with silly singing and confident voices.
We rounded off our movement sessions by dancing along to “do you wanna build a snowman?” and “Aram Sam Sam”, copying the dance actions, laughing and moving together as a joyful group.
Messy Play & Muddy Creations
Despite the weather, the mud kitchen kept its magical place in the forest! In the mud kitchen, the children scooped soil, added water, mixed in leaves and stones to create delicious pretend cakes and soups. It was wonderfully messy fun! The children negotiated roles, shared tools and invented imaginative stories together as they cooked up their muddy masterpieces.
Caterpillars & Storytelling
Children took part in a calming creative activity inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar. After listening to the story, they made their own caterpillars using leaves and felt. As they crafted, the children talked through the events of the story, practicing their language skills and building confidence in storytelling.
A Warm Welcome at the Library
Stepping inside the library felt like entering a treasure trove of stories. The children were greeted by rows of colourful books, soft lighting and a space filled with quiet excitement. They explored shelves filled with picture books, animal tales, fairy tales and adventure stories - each child drawn to something different. Children were given time to browse independently or with friends, carefully choosing books to look at or borrow. It was wonderful to see how confidently they navigated the space - selecting books, turning pages gently and showing respect for the library environment.
A Week Full of Learning Through Play
This week was a beautiful blend of exploration, creativity, imagination, physical activity and shared experiences. From building houses and acting out stories, to singing, dancing, crafting and cooking in the mud kitchen, the children showed curiosity, collaboration and joy in everything they did.
We look forward to more adventures together in the forest soon! 🌿✨
Little Forest Folk
Chiswick