This week has been filled with exciting adventures, imaginative play, and wonderful opportunities for the children to explore, create, and learn through meaningful experiences in our forest environment. From storytelling and creative art to sensory exploration and scientific discovery, the children embraced each activity with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Our week began with a focus on the much-loved story We're Going on a Bear Hunt. The children thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story, joining in with the repeated phrases, and exploring books placed around the forest, helping to foster a love of reading and storytelling. Inspired by the story, the children created their own bears using fork painting, experimenting with textures while developing their fine motor skills and creativity. They also enjoyed a teddy bear picnic, caring for their cuddly friends using a doctor's set, which encouraged imaginative role play, communication, and empathy.
Creative expression continued throughout the week as the children explored painting with bright, vibrant colours inspired by the sunny weather. They proudly watched their artwork dry in the warm sunshine before moving on to a range of exciting outdoor experiences. Water play proved especially popular, with children investigating how water poured, splashed, flowed, and travelled through the soil. In the mud kitchen, they worked together to dig ponds, observing how water moved between them and discussing their discoveries, introducing early scientific thinking through play.
The children also enjoyed exploring sea-themed activities, using fishing nets to catch a variety of sea creatures while strengthening their hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Their imaginations flourished as natural resources became bathrooms, showers, recipes, potions and even new homes for a worm discovered during play. Sensory fabrics inspired imaginative ice cream creations, encouraging creativity, conversation and collaborative play.
Storytime remained a favourite part of the day, with our little ones sharing a variety of books including The Lion King, animal stories and interactive lift-the-flap books. These experiences supported listening, language development and a growing enjoyment of reading together.
Elsewhere in the forest, our little adventurers confidently explored mark-making, shape-sorting, music and movement, developing perseverance, early mathematical skills, and self-expression. They also practised taking turns during supervised target activities and delighted in energetic group games, including the ever-popular "Teacher is the Monster!", which filled the forest with laughter.
It has been a fantastic week of exploration, creativity and teamwork. We are incredibly proud of the children's curiosity, confidence and enthusiasm as they continue to learn through play and discover the world around them. Thank you for your continued support and we hope you all have a wonderful weekend. We look forward to welcoming our full day children and holiday campers back for another exciting week of adventures.
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath