It’s been a week full of sunshine, stories and seaside fun here in the forest! Our Little Forest Folk-ers have been brimming with creativity, imagination and plenty of giggles as they explored new tales.
We began the week by creating our own stories, starting with things we love - anything from dinosaurs to pigeons! The children came up with brilliant (often hilarious) ideas and even acted them out during play. Our tuff tray was a sensory hit, filled with rice and oats for mixing, scooping and sprinkling. Some children even scattered them in the forest area, which caught the attention of our new visitors - wood pigeons! The children named them, researched facts and were delighted to see them enjoying the oats as a snack.
Midweek, we brought the beach to the forest! Our little adventurers explored moon sand, splashed in water, and enjoyed beach-themed stories such as Hot Dog, Clem and Crab, and the wordless wonder Flotsam, which sparked lots of imagination. Role play took centre stage with picnic blankets, sandcastle building and pretend ice cream stands. We ended the day with homemade ice lollies - a refreshing treat on a sunny afternoon!
The forest then came alive with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler favourites - from 'The Highway Rat' to 'Room on the Broom'. In the Gruffalo mud kitchen, children whipped up “scrambled snake” (spaghetti) and “Gruffalo crumble” (muesli), delighting in squishing the ingredients between their fingers. Costumes and fabrics transformed camp into a theatre, complete with a stage curtain for impromptu performances. Laughter, “five minutes till showtime!” calls and even broomstick rides (though this broom only fit one!) filled the air.
Alongside all the storytelling magic, the children made citronella necklaces to ward off mosquitoes, continued blackberry picking and used tools to start a new Zones of Regulation project. These moments gave them a chance to work with their hands, build fine motor skills, and develop their problem-solving abilities - all while having heaps of fun.
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath