Exploring the Forest

What is Forest School?

You may be wondering, what exactly is Forest School? Well, it’s an approach to early childhood education that takes children out of traditional classrooms and into the great outdoors. Imagine little explorers learning in forests, meadows, and streams. This nature-based pedagogy encourages children to engage with their environment, build confidence, and develop life skills through hands-on learning and play. It’s all about fostering creativity, problem-solving, and connection with nature!

Our Nursery’s Lithuanian Adventure

As a part of our commitment to offering the best educational experiences for our children, our dedicated team traveled to Lithuania to witness Forest School in action. It was an unforgettable experience, where our staff observed the magic of outdoor learning, learning directly from educators who have been nurturing young minds in the wilderness for years.

The Lithuanian Forest School model focuses on letting children take the lead in their learning, exploring the natural world and creating their own paths. It’s not just about fun and games (though there’s plenty of that too!). Forest Schools are grounded in research that shows outdoor education helps develop important cognitive, social, and emotional skills in children. And our staff came back full of new ideas and enthusiasm to bring back some of that outdoor magic to our nursery.

Why Outdoor Learning Matters for Kids 🌞

Now, you might be wondering – why is all this outdoor fun and adventure so important for young children? Let’s dive into it!

Boosting Physical Health: We all know that fresh air and physical activity are essential for healthy bodies. When children engage in outdoor learning, they’re climbing, running, jumping, and playing in ways that build their strength, coordination, and overall fitness. All of this helps combat sedentary lifestyles, especially in today’s tech-heavy world.

Enhancing Cognitive Development: The outdoor environment offers endless opportunities for children to explore, investigate, and solve problems. Whether it’s building a den, identifying different plants, or working out how to cross a stream, outdoor play promotes critical thinking and creativity. Plus, nature offers a vast array of sensory experiences that engage all of the senses – something that’s hard to replicate inside.

Improving Mental Health and Well-being: Being outdoors has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and it helps children build resilience and confidence. Nature offers a calm and peaceful environment that supports emotional growth, which is key in the early years of development.

Fostering Connection with Nature: With our busy modern lives, many children miss out on forming a real connection with the natural world. Outdoor education helps children develop a respect for the environment, an understanding of ecology, and a sense of responsibility for the planet they’re inheriting.

Building Social Skills: Outdoor play also encourages teamwork and social interaction. Whether children are working together to build a fort or taking turns in a game, they’re learning how to cooperate, communicate, and resolve conflicts – all vital skills they’ll carry with them through life.

Bringing the Forest School Spirit Back Home

We’re excited to integrate the incredible lessons we learned in Lithuania into our own nursery setting. Our staff is already planning ways to bring more nature-inspired activities into our daily routine, whether it’s regular outdoor play, nature walks, or creating our very own little forest corner. By blending the best of both worlds – traditional learning and nature-based exploration – we’re committed to fostering well-rounded, confident, and curious children.