This week at Putney Heath, the forest was buzzing with energy, creativity and dramatic flair as the children explored our theme of ‘Role Play’. The sunshine only added to the spark of imagination that lit up every corner of camp.
We kicked off the week by offering the children a treasure trove of open-ended materials - ribbons, patterned paper, pens, crayons, glue, and popsicle sticks - and gave them the freedom to invent, design and transform their ideas into reality. One popular creation was homemade boomerangs, carefully crafted from popsicle sticks and beautifully decorated. The children not only expressed their creativity through art, but also put their inventions to the test, running, throwing and experimenting with different techniques, blending imaginative play with physical activity.
As the week continued, the children’s imaginative worlds expanded into the realm of real-life heroes and community helpers. Our little adventurers became doctors, transforming camp into a bustling surgery, complete with lab coats, stethoscopes and fascinating books about the human body. In a wonderfully cool twist on classic role play, the children performed “operations” by rescuing toys frozen in blocks of ice, carefully chipping and melting them out with tools from their doctor kits. This playful activity combined sensory exploration with fine motor skills and problem solving—plus it was a brilliant way to beat the heat!
Later in the week, our forest became home to a network of emergency services. There were police stations, fire brigades and hospitals, each operated by the children with care, excitement and a touch of theatre. Officers dashed through camp chasing mischievous “baddies” who giggled with glee as they hid behind trees and under logs. Firefighters raced to rescue “injured” animals and teddies, using walkie-talkies, sirens and imaginative bravery to save the day.
To finish off our action-packed week, the children participated in a tool session - a perfect way to bring focus and calm after such energetic adventures. Using potato peelers, they carefully whittled sticks, developing their coordination and concentration. They then used pens to add details and turn their sticks into small world people, giving names, stories and personalities to their hand-crafted characters.
It has been a joyful week, full of collaboration, communication and storytelling. Role play gave the children the opportunity to step into new shoes, explore different perspectives and celebrate the incredible power of imagination.
Wishing you all a restful and sunny long weekend. We can’t wait to see what adventures next week brings!
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath