Spring flowers have started to emerge, so children at Little Forest Folk's Wimbledon nursery are building fences around them with sticks and string to protect them from being trampled on. Others are using iPads to research the flowers and investigate what they will look like when they are in full bloom.
While the flowers are only starting to come out now the weather is getting warmer, the children at Little Forest Folk – which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year – are outside throughout the seasons.
Founders Leanna and James Barrett opened their first setting with ten children in a muddy field to address the disconnect between children and nature in London. Parents are increasingly recognising the health, developmental and educational benefits of outdoor learning and there are now eight Little Forest Folk nurseries. The group was acquired by Bright Stars Nursery Group two years ago and its first setting outside of the capital opened in National Trust grounds in Winkworth, Surrey, in January.
‘When I talk about the nurseries I still get very emotional because the concept is every child's dream – to have the freedom to learn, the freedom to play,’ says director of operations Jeni Dunning, who has been with the company for seven years. ‘We still have a structured curriculum and cover all areas of the EYFS, but we do it in a totally outdoor, natural environment. In the unpredictable outdoor environment, they learn to fall over and get up again and the joys of being outdoors, even in the rain and the wind. That carries on into later childhood and we're seeing some of our first children from ten years ago have an absolute love for the outdoors. They know that there's so much more than sitting in front of a screen.’
This sets them apart from their peers, as studies show children today are leading increasingly sedentary lives, not playing outdoors. The impact of this early exposure to nature can have lasting benefits – research shows engaging people at a young age can result in lifelong positive attitudes about nature and the environment1. Those who have had frequent childhood experiences in natural places also tend to feel more comfortable visiting such places alone and have a more positive attitude towards them when they are adults2.
ADAPTING
Children gather each morning at an indoor location where they have breakfast before going to the fixed outdoor sites where they stay until it is getting dark regardless of the weather, unless there is a severe storm. To cope with the unpredictable British climate, children are provided with sturdy summer/winter waterproofs as part of the registration fee. Trees also create a natural canopy and staff are adept at erecting shelters, which the children often assist with, for shade from the rain and sun, along with tarps for windbreaks.
But many children choose to simply put their hoods up and engage in rainy-day play, including looking at rain flow, capturing water in containers and jumping in muddy puddles. Camp fires and hot drinks help them to stay warm. There are toilet tents and tents for children to sleep in, although they often nap outdoors in the summer months.
BENEFITS
Dunning says the health benefits of being outdoors all day are ‘huge’. These include strengthening immune systems, reducing stress levels, supporting muscle and bone growth and improving sleep cycles. Children are encouraged to explore and be active – embarking on minibeast explorations, building dens, digging and creating mud pies – along with mindfulness activities to help them to relax and have down time.
Children are encouraged to reflect on their play, which leads to focusing on their emotions and being grounded in the present, improving emotional regulation.
Studies show children have higher physical activity levels in green spaces and children who spend more time outdoors have better motor skills and fitness, especially balance and co-ordination3. Playing outside for prolonged periods positively impacts children's development, their balance, agility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination, tactile sensitivity and depth perception4.
Educators note how the children come on in ‘leaps and bounds’ in their physical development while exploring the uneven terrain, scrambling over logs, through mud and climbing trees. Rope ladders, swings and zip lines are also added where appropriate.
‘The key thing we've learned in ten years is how children learn resilience from being outdoors,’ says Dunning. ‘Most parents wouldn't dream of going to a park if it's raining sideways, but this is what we do every day. Our parents say they really notice resilience in their children and an ability to cope with so much more.’
She adds that they want to ‘arm’ children with a range of life skills – risk-taking, problem-solving, resilience and team work – that will prepare them for the future. ‘Hopefully in another ten years all our Little Forest Folk will be able to cope with life and everything it throws at them,’ Dunning says.
mixed ages
The two-to five-year-olds attending Little Forest Folk have a 1:4 ratio and are grouped together, rather than split by age. ‘In our view, this replicates what happens in life,’ explains Jeni Dunning. ‘We all need to learn to mix with each other. It's really important for the youngest children to be able to learn from the older children and also for the older children to be able to learn how to help the little ones.’
Rather than the traditional pathway of a child moving through a setting according to their age, children can take their next steps naturally. ‘So in our mix of children, we may have some two-year-olds whose language is quite advanced, and it is so because they're able to progress at their own pace and mix with much older children,’ Dunning explains. ‘Then that works backwards for children who perhaps aren't so confident with some of their personal, social and emotional development. They can be with the younger children. So no child feels like they're standing out as being different or delayed.’
Dunning adds the natural outdoor environment lends itself to this model as children never outgrow it, unlike with some resources. They can continue to build on their skills as they ‘organically’ challenge themselves and take risks.
Despite living in the city, children are surrounded by nature while at nursery and are learning to respect it. They have a rule not to ‘shake or break’ anything, but if it is on the ground they can pick up and use it.
‘Our children have a great understanding of the seasons,’ says Dunning. ‘Our Twickenham nursery has a river running down the side of it. In the summer, when the water level is low, the children walk along the river bed. Now they're starting to look out for ducks and then they will follow the whole lifecycle through from spotting eggs to chicks being born and swimming on the water.’
