Forest Education

There is a huge amount of research that has proven being outside improves mental, physical and emotional health in children. Exploring and playing outdoors with forest education provides new opportunities to improve communication skills and build relationships, as well as develop confidence, self-esteem and resilience as they take new risks in new activities and learn how to deal with both success and failure. Creativity, motor skills and problem solving are all challenged and improved, leading to what is often a very positive impact on a child’s behaviour and development.

The opportunities for outside play are endless, especially with a child’s imagination. When engaging with forest education, we find a balance between structured activities and letting children find their own interests while wandering the outdoor space under our supervision. Either way, the experience is always fun and always educational. Whether hunting for minibeasts, splashing in puddles, tending to baby plants or playing a number of games that allow them to run around, all of the children finish their forest education sessions with huge smiles and lots of excitement for their next trip outdoors.

Forest education supports many different areas of the early years’ curriculum. The new environments and outdoor spaces are a great place to continue physical development, and new activities often mean lots of new interactions to help improve communication skills and their own personal and emotional development. Nature is also an important part of learning itself. From seasons and weather to plant and animal life, there’s endless opportunities to learn about the world we live in. Using natural materials such as leaves and twigs there’s also lots of ways to enjoy some art and craft activities too.