Our Week in the Forest
Do you think that a rainy day is ideal for indoor activities, movies and lots of hot chocolate? Well, our Little Forest Folk-ers proved the opposite. This week, we transitioned from a frosty forest to a wet one and we couldn’t be prouder of how our little explorers adapted so smoothly.
We set off to the ‘Fulham Palace train station’, queued in a line to get our personalised tickets with a suitcase full of smiles, excitement and togetherness. We talked about ticket fares, estimated the travel cost and learnt to be patient and wait for our turn. While we were on the train we had to make sure to not miss our final destination. Such a hard task when you have so much fun to not be all over the place! Despite that, our kind friends are always there to remind us of our stop and so they did.
Next stop….a wood cookie drilling spot! Children were thrilled for a different type of tool, a hand drill, to make holes in wood. Fine motor skills, precision and determination took place alongside handling an unusual tool with… ooh wait... left or right hand? It was such a fun moment to see them deciding the best way to hold it. They got to write their initials or name and decorate it as they wished, by either threading through the holes or painting.
An announcement was made the next morning that we had to make a stop at our restaurant. Our little adventurers put on a real chef’s hat, apron and went shopping, selecting the most prime ingredients for their recipes. They paid at the till and finally cooked an enormous pot of soup to keep us warm. It was all about choosing, fitting foods in the basket, paying using numbers and finally following a step by step recipe. As the soup needed some time to boil, we went on to a pumpkin hot chocolate factory! We had the chance to scoop the pumpkin seeds out, measuring the right amount of water and seeds, adding some spices and voilà! Ohh...wait a minute. The soup smells delicious! It must be ready. What if we make a huge salad? And so we set off for some more ingredients…except this time we had to go for a little search under a mystical tree. Vegetables and fruits were hidden under and around, making a fun activity that included coordination, spacial awareness and an effort to get what they needed in an enjoyable way. That was a real hunt!
After our shopping, we needed some rest…and we woke up next morning with a dazzling surprise! A camp that was steamy and foggy. It felt like we moved our camp up in the clouds… Little Forest Folk-ers were in awe, witnessing the magic of winter mornings and changes that nature offers us day by day. With that said, let’s embrace nature and learn how to plant a crocus bulb! We learned about counting bulbs, measuring scoops of soil, pouring water carefully and showing lots of care. And as the sun shined across our camp we let the celebration begin with a dress shop corner and pretend role play. Again, we encouraged some counting and appointed a cashier who rented the clothes to each one. The camp was filled with high energy, laughter and kind helpers. On a different corner, children decided to climb the mystical tree, be brave and wish away their worries. Such a heartwarming moment seeing their confidence boosted after their achievements of climbing the tree. The world seems different up there and nothing can stop us!
Heading towards the end of the week and after so much rain, we decided that rain doesn’t bother us anymore! Our little explorers were running wild in some puddles, mud all over the place and the biggest joy in their little eyes sparkled some unforgettable moments. We let our inner world be expressed in every way possible. Since we enjoyed finding the hidden objects under the enormous, majestic tree, this time we had to find some wooden cookies that were easily camouflaged. Their eyes were wide like an eagle searching for some food and everyone moved carefully between the tricky tree branches. All that’s needed is nature and some imagination to initiate a fun activity! Our young ones practiced counting the cookies and our older children tried some real math problem-solving.
We ended this week with a rhythmic activity where children jiggled and giggled in the sounds that they made. Learning some beats and music patterns in a fun, enjoyable way that made the birds of our camp join them in singing. Our story time this week was also quite popular and children delved into the majestic worlds of words and images. All in all, it has been a week of helping hands, being together and creating fun activities, despite the changes in weather. We can’t wait to see what the next week brings!
Little Forest Folk
Fulham