Forest School? Who says you need a forest?

Mamatomo Mama
Apr 11, 2018
5 min read

Updated: Sep 6, 2018

My kids were lucky enough to both enjoy Forest School when we lived in the UK. Living in New York, they don't have the same opportunity BUT even if your kid's school doesn't offer Forest School or if you live in a city, you can still follow the principles of Forest School and allow your kids the chance to enjoy free, independent and imaginative play amongst nature.

What is Forest School?

Forest School is hugely popular in European schools right now. Originating in Scandinavia and in line with Montessori principles of child-led play, Forest School has been shown to be hugely beneficial in children's mental development, their confidence and their ability to assess and take risks. Children learn to be happy outdoors, to experience different weather and to be free without constraints. It is the way that children have played for thousands and thousands of years before the modern age.

Child-led play is exactly that - play that is led by children and not adults. Children should be free to play and explore without the interference of adults.

We all know that children are supposed to play. Many adults struggle not to show children how to do things - to stand back and let them discover things for themselves. When a child is involved happily in play, they are exploring and discovering at their own pace. When an adult takes over, the child no longer has control about the speed of that learning or the direction it is going to take.

The beautiful thing about Forest School is that you don't bring toys

In the modern world, we bombard our children with entertainment. We take them to classes and the play park. At home, we surround them with toys and screens. With many of us living in big cities, children never get the chance to be free, to explore, to discover. They are constantly 'entertained'. Forest School strips everything back to basics and is something that you can do with your own kids - even if you live in a city. All you need is a park or green space - somewhere safe and clean.

How do I 'do' Forest School?

The idea of Forest School is to teach children to make their own entertainment and to foster an interest in nature. You can bring some basic items if you like - such as buckets and spades, a magnifying glass or two so they can look at what they find, even some paintbrushes so they can 'paint' the trees or ground with water - but the items can just be left at 'base camp' which is where you will have a rug or place for your things to be set out. If the kids want to use whatever you bring then fine - if not - also fine. Some hardliners would argue you don't need anything except what you find. This is where the actual ideals of Forest School can become personal. Do what you think best. Of course, children love sticks and will likely pick those up, they also might collect stones and pile them up, the next week they might make a nest with leaves or grass, the next week slide down a muddy hill as if it were a slide in a park. The amazing thing about allowing children to play with what they find is that it encourages them to use their imagination and the possibilities are endless.

Basic Rules

The rules are -

*no lick, no pick - don't put anything in your mouth and don't damage any plants

*kids are free to play with what they find - sticks, stones, leaves, look at worms (even hold them if they are gentle)

*dirt is good! Kids should be appropriately dressed - waterproofs if its muddy, sunscreen if it's sunny. Hats as necessary. Mud comes off. Kids need to enjoy getting dirty - oh and they will!

Where should you do it?

You'd be amazed how creative play can be in an environment that is uninteresting to an adult. You should be playing in the same place each time. Forest School should be repetitive.. You can mark out an area that is visual to both kids and adults - between this tree and that tree perhaps. It does not need to be a huge area but it needs to be large enough to have a variety of interesting features. Rocky parts, bumpy terrain, trees, bushes, hilly parts. Of course, if there is any water nearby the you must be very, very careful to watch your kid at all times - similarly if there are jaggy bushes or poisonous plants.

There are certain risks in allowing kids freedom to move around outdoors - and of course adults should be watching over them at all times. There will always be stinging plants, bugs, sharp rocks etc. but the agreed principle of Forest School is that children need to learn to manage risk by themselves and by giving them freedom they take responsibility for risks to their own bodies.

Don't be afraid of weather!

Weather happens. If we waited for a warm, sunny day every time we went outside then we'd never go out. Dress your child, and yourself, appropriately. Expect to get wet, dirty, hot or cold. If it is hot or cold, or wet, you can limit the time you are outdoors and make sure that you have spare, dry clothes to change into. Bring a hot drink if its cold. Teach your child that being active warms you up. Let them know that it's ok to get wet and dirty. This is what you are expecting and you are prepared. If they know this then they can fully engage with the environment and enjoy the experience.

Make Forest School a regular thing

It is agreed by most Forest School practitioners that children engage in more deep and meaningful play once they have been doing Forest School for a longer time so it would be beneficial to try to allow this sort of play on a regular basis. Being amongst nature is incredibly calming for everyone.