By joining a local forest school, you’re not just part of a growing community of outdoor families near you, but also of forest schools - and outdoor families - far and wide, connected under the Forest School for All umbrella. Welcome!
The benefits to outdoor forest play are extensive. Physical, emotional, social, environmental - take your pick. There’s a good chance you’ll start to see these unfold for you and your child right in front of your very eyes, only to grow over time. Enjoy the simple moments of childhood wonder, the humble elements that connect us to nature and the touching times your child learns or grows or surprises you, all alike.
As you embark on forest school, here are a few things to keep in mind to get the most out of your experience:
1. Follow Your Child’s Rhythm
Forest play happens at its best when everyone is excited about being there. Feeling hungry, tired, cold or disinterested changes the entire dynamic and becomes an unnecessary struggle. There will be plenty of opportunities to experience the benefits of outdoor play - and it truly only takes a few minutes for them to start to kick in - so allow yourself to be flexible to the needs of your family - including yourself.
2. Gear Up
We love the phrase, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” Outdoor play is possible - and just as beneficial - in all seasons, in all types of weather. But your gear will certainly go a long way toward making or breaking that experience, especially in inclement weather or more extreme conditions. Think about how to stay dry when it’s wet, warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. The power of staying temperate, can help make that outdoor experience enjoyable for everyone in the family, no matter what.
3. Find Your Inner Child
The world through our children’s eyes can be filled with endless wonder. As parents we have the advantage of stepping back and seeing just how beautiful that is, as well as the opportunity to dive in and be filled with that same wonder ourselves. So go ahead and splash in muddy puddles, run through the rain, look at something as those we too were children, and play like nothing else matters. You might find yourself and your child laughing harder and smiling wider together than you can ever remember.
4. Challenges Help Us Grow
The forest is full of challenges. Some built-in. Others, of our children’s own desires. Can I scale this tree? Can I build a fort? Can I swing from this branch? Can I build a fairy village? Left to their own thought process, children can come up with fascinating ideas. And it is beautiful to watch them challenge themselves, as well as work together as a group to turn an idea into reality. Occasional safety guidance might be needed, but largely, children benefit from the space and the time to work together on these challenges to get the creative juices flowing and to build confidence through the process. Take a step back and enjoy as it unfolds.
5. Rethink Expectations
When you play outdoors with your child, do you find you have expectations for their experience? Do you feel disappointed if things do not go the way you planned or if certain indicators of a successful visit are not met? Challenge these thoughts to find out why you carry these with you. Ask yourself if it is possible your child is getting something entirely different out of the experience that is unexpectedly beautiful. The more you wrestle with your own expectations, the more we tune into the rhythms and happiness of our children and our family as a whole.
We hope you and your child have a wonderful forest school experience together and with your new found outdoor community. We invite you to share your adventures with others, and if you’re social media inclined, through #seeyouintheforest, our favorite way to begin and end our time together.
Enjoy, welcome and as always, see you in the forest!