Communication and Language -(AKA - Let them play!)

For children to truly explore communication and language they need opportunities to do it! The Forest School ethos empowers us as leaders to facilitate it in a natural environment and to watch from a distance, (unless needed to intervene), and see how they come together, problem solve and work together.

‘Team work makes the dream work!’ Is huge in Forest School, we massively promote this, and it really does build dreams!

As an example, looking at these children from our sessions who all wanted to build a ‘den’. They headed off and picked up branches, it was a dream! But the real magic happens when they all realise that they all only have a few branches each….. That’s the moment communication and language comes in to play and we get excited as on viewers! They independently decide to join forces, (even though they may not know each other), collaboration begins, an idea builds and before you know it we have a ninja fort!! And guardians! And there are rules they have created amongst themselves!

Role play is happening, friendships are being created, positional, mathematical language is being used and everyone is enjoying free play and imagination as a group! …. It’s Forest

Physical development (AKA - Let them have a go!)

Physical development covers both gross/large body movement as well as fine/small body movement. From stepping over log stumps and climbing trees to winding string around a wand and pinching clay to make models…. We cover it all at Forest School!

This is largely due to having a natural environment where children can explore these challenges and risky play through their own interests and games freely and safely.

How hard is it not to jump in and help or take over? We are mums ourselves and know!! But our job in Forest School is to step back enough, as well as support when we see it’s needed.

We love a creative art activity at Wild Adventures and we also can’t resist a bit of a mud kitchen or even slackline balancing! (Which is challenging, even for us leaders!!)

This photo from one of our sessions show how challenge can be fun in free play, and how, given enough support and independence, our little wildlings can explore and become independent in their own abilities …. and further them!

Social development (AKA - Let them be themselves!)

A big part of our day is spent playing games and working together. We engage learners in group and team activities and we all cheer each other on.

At Wild Adventures we are not afraid to look silly and goof around! You will often see the leaders howling at the top of their voice or jumping around like a frog, (which they have been turned into with someone’s wand!) We do this to inspire learners to do the same, which helps break down barriers that can hinder social development, everyone can fit in and truly be themselves!

We model how to encourage each other when tasks are tricky and we reflect on our experiences at the fire circle at the end of each session where learners take turns in talking about their triumphs and challenges.

As you can see, this is the bit we really enjoy, we sit back with big smiles and look around the fire circle at all the new friendships that have been created throughout the day as they sit together chatting and enjoy their campfire snack as a little Forest School Family!

Emotional development (AKA - Let them find challenge!)

A large part of what we do in Forest School is designed to promote risky play and a ‘have a go’ attitude. Trying something new or experiencing risk safely can have a positive effect and build on one’s confidence, resilience and a positive attitude in life.

At Wild Adventures we don’t say, ‘we can’t, we say, ‘how can we?’ We implore learner’s to come to us with their ideas and do our best to fulfil them!

A lot of our activities can be new to learners giving everyone a brand new experience, which means there are no experts!

Having a go at something new can be challenging and frustrating when things are not easy or you are trying a new skill. Learners need these life experiences, (at an appropriate level), for their development, paired with encouragement to build on self esteem and confidence, which in turn creates good emotional wellbeing.

These challenges foster the mind set of, ‘I tried something that was tricky before and when I persevered I did it!’ This is the resilience, confidence and healthy self esteem we strive to achieve in all learners at Wild Adventures.

Intellectual development (AKA - Let them puzzle it out!)

When you see a pile of branches in the woods, who can’t resist building a den? But… There are no instructions!

This, to us as adults, seems simple to figure out as our past experiences in life tell us what we know will work and also what won’t. We have already developed these skills and take them for granted every day!

For young learners, having an idea of what you want to create and having to navigate through the stages of making it successfully, really does take A LOT of intellectual skill and even more so in a natural environment!

They may want to build a drum kit, climb a tree or even create an assault course with loose natural parts but the process learners go through is not only quite amazing, but it’s filled with opportunities where problem solving, reasoning and thinking outside of the box is needed! This is how we develop intellectually!

Things WILL go wrong! You try another way or seek ideas from others. Trial and error is often the most used method with learners and when it works, a schema is made in the brain that will be there for life and they will recall on it in future situations!

‘Mistakes are good as it means we learn something!’ Is our mantra at Wild Adventures … and we are there to support them every step of the way!