Our week in the forest
Welcome back, and we wish you all a very happy New Year. We hope you had a lovely time celebrating Christmas and enjoyed a restful holiday break. It has been so wonderful to welcome everyone back into the forest and kick-start the new year together.
We greeted the new year with a fun frosty game, pretending to skate on ice as we made our way towards camp. The children had a wonderful time in the garden, embracing the cold weather and snow while sitting beside the cosy campfire to keep warm.
Throughout the day, the children enjoyed listening to stories after sliding down the icy slope on their bottoms and playing energetic games such as freeze games. The mud kitchen was also very popular, with the children creating “cold recipes” using snow and mud. They showed great imagination as they mixed and served their winter dishes.
Our little adventurers used clay to make figures representing their families, enjoying time talking about and describing their loved ones. They also challenged themselves with building blocks, working together to build tall towers without them toppling over. Alongside this, they created a dinosaur world where they could play together, exploring the garden through imaginative play.
A real highlight was making hot chocolate and warm milk on the campfire while enjoying the cozy atmosphere of the glowing embers and the snowy surroundings. We were amazed by how beautiful the forest looked, glistening in white. The children observed ice forming on leaves and twigs, felt the snow dusting the ground and carefully slid across icy paths.
Once in the forest, we warmed ourselves up with a lively game of pirates’ freeze tag and acted out Going on a Bear Hunt, searching for our bear friend hiding in a cosy cave. We then enjoyed a warm lunch at the clubhouse before heading back out for a long winter walk to take in the seasonal scenery.
Later, the children reflected on what they might be like when they grow up. They discussed what might change, such as hair length or colour and what would stay the same, like eye colour. The children made popsicle puppets to represent their ideas, showing excellent creativity, patience and fine motor control as they cut, coloured and assembled their designs.
We also transformed half of the camp into a forest house, complete with a kitchen, living room, bedroom and playroom. The children talked about who lives in their homes and what they enjoy doing there, with many hosting a grand tea party for their friends and teachers.
Other activities included making animal prints in floury snow sensory trays, copying facial expressions using mirrors and keeping warm with physical games such as Simon Says, Party Freeze and swing play. Later in the week, the children enjoyed talking about their favourite things, including colours, toys, foods, stories and television shows.
It has been a joyful and cosy start to the year. Have a lovely weekend.
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath