Our week in the forest
What an incredible week we have shared together in the forest! Across the week, the children demonstrated creativity, resilience, teamwork, curiosity and a true sense of adventure as they explored the ever-changing outdoor environment. From pirate-themed role play to musical exploration, mud kitchen creations, climbing challenges and dramatic weather experiences, every day brought exciting opportunities for learning and discovery.
One of the strongest themes throughout the week was imaginative pirate play. The children fully immersed themselves in creating their own pirate worlds, using natural materials and open-ended resources to develop rich storylines together. They designed pirate eye masks, built fishing rods from sticks and string, created mazes and “pirate ships” using ropes between trees and explored sensory sea-themed activities with boats and sea creatures. These imaginative experiences encouraged communication, collaboration, storytelling, and problem-solving while allowing children to confidently express their own ideas and creativity.
Our mud kitchen continued to be a favourite area each day. The children explored mixing, measuring, pouring, and creating “recipes” using leaves, mud, berries, rainwater, and natural materials collected around the forest. They showed fantastic concentration and cooperation while working together to create imaginative meals and pirate potions. The addition of the water dispenser sparked particular interest, with children enthusiastically discovering how the pump worked and patiently taking turns to fill buckets and containers. Through this type of sensory and exploratory play, the children strengthened their fine motor skills, scientific thinking, language development and social confidence.
Music and movement also played an important role in our week. The children explored a variety of instruments including guitars, boom whackers and percussion toys, experimenting with different sounds, beats and rhythms. Group singing sessions featuring familiar songs such as Five Little Speckled Frogs created joyful moments of connection and supported listening skills, memory and language development. Outdoor movement games including hide-and-seek, dinosaur adventures, climbing, and running through the forest supported the children’s physical development while encouraging confidence, coordination, and resilience.
The ever-changing weather certainly added to the excitement of the week! We experienced sunshine, heavy rain, hailstorms, thunder and lightning - sometimes all in one day! The children adapted incredibly well to these conditions and showed excellent listening skills and emotional resilience throughout. During stormy weather and emergency evacuations from the forest, the children remained calm, cooperative, and responsible while following safety instructions carefully. Many children even embraced the dramatic weather with enthusiasm, sharing their excitement about thunder, puddles, and rain.
A particularly special moment this week was the introduction of the rope swing. Before using it the children worked together to help make the area safe by clearing space and creating boundaries using logs and branches. They demonstrated wonderful patience and negotiation skills while taking turns and supporting one another during risky play experiences.
Throughout the week, the children continuously impressed us with their kindness, imagination, teamwork and adventurous spirit. Forest nursery provides endless opportunities for children to develop confidence, independence and a deeper connection with the natural world and this week truly reflected all of those values.
Thank you for your continued support. We hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to many more forest adventures together next week!
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath