The Benefits of Forest School for Young Children

 Nowadays, children are spending far too much time glued to a digital device, losing sight of the simple pleasures obtained from outdoor play. With this in mind, many schools around the world, including this private nursery in Battersea, have established Forest School. 

The is a child-centered, learner-led approach that encourages children to make independent decisions, develop an appreciation towards nature, learn to assess risks, and solve various problems. Through frequent sessions, Forest School makes way for holistic growth, including improved self-esteem and intellectual progression.  

In simple terms, Forest School is a type of outdoor learning that includes activities such as climbing trees, scavenger hunts, making mud pies, using gardening tools, and a range of other fun and educational endeavors. It’s all about allowing children to get their hands dirty in a safe, structured environment while focussing on using natural resources. After all, learning isn’t limited to a classroom. 

So, here are some of the benefits of Forest School in further detail…

 

• Improves Physical & Mental Health: Forest School allows children to run, roam and play in the fresh air, which is beneficial for their mental and physical wellbeing.

 

• Encourages Curiosity: Finding ways to nurture curiosity is important because it helps children become more observant and experimental. Forest School encourages curiosity because it allows children to discover more about the world around them and ask questions while trying to figure things out. 

 

• Advances Motor Skills: When children engage their bodies, as well as their minds, they are able to develop their fine and gross motor skills, as well as hand-eye coordination, all of which aid in the completion of everyday tasks. 

 

• Enhances Social Skills: During Forest School sessions, children must communicate with their peers and work as part of a team to solve problems. These types of interactions are not always available to them in traditional classroom environments. 

 

• Promotes Respect for the Environment: As children spend more time outdoors and experience nature first-hand, they learn more about different animals and bugs, trees, and flowers, and how the seasons change. This promotes a sense of respect for the environment. 

 

These are just a few of the many benefits of Forest School. As children have fun, build strong relationships, and develop a range of skills, they become increasingly more confident. 

This is crucial for their overall success in school and beyond because it will give them the strength to take risks and try new things.