Our week in the forest
What a memorable week it has been for our little learners, full of creativity, storytelling, teamwork and imaginative adventure across the forest and the clubhouse.
Monday greeted us with very wet and windy weather, so we enjoyed a snug day indoors to begin. The children embraced festive creativity, making treasured decorations to take home for their own Christmas trees. These activities will continue over the coming weeks, as we joyfully craft more seasonal pieces together. In the afternoon, we wrapped up warmly for a festive walk through the woods, where the children made an exciting discovery — an elf hiding in the bushes! Upon returning to the clubhouse, now fondly known as the palace, more elves were spotted nestled in the Christmas trees. Their curiosity led to thoughtful conversations with educators, raising many open-ended questions about where the elves came from, how they arrived, and what stories they might share. We rounded off the day with a story session reading Mog’s Christmas, a calm and magical conclusion to our wintery wander.
Tuesday brought milder temperatures, perfect for gathering in the forest to share stories together. The children enjoyed revisiting seasonal and familiar favourites, including the story of Hanukkah and Stick Man. We explored stories in new ways - drawing story scenes and creating story bags filled with characters and props. This supports sequencing, language development and confidence in expressing and sharing ideas. The afternoon brought another seasonal twist, as children worked together to make “forest gingerbread” using natural materials. They selected leaves and cut them into shapes before “baking” them in the play oven, offering a meaningful opportunity to build hand strength and practice scissor control with intention and care.
Wednesday transformed the forest into a fairytale world of the children’s own collective making. Inspired by the magic of storytelling, the children invented a narrative about a princess who loved to draw, while also experimenting with letter-writing on story parchment. Character illustrations flourished through the day, reflecting their growing confidence in mark-making and creative design.
Thursday saw another adventure unfold - this time a walk to Roehampton Library! Beginning from the cricket pitch, we made our way along muddy woodland paths while singing Christmas songs and sharing ideas about favourite books and stories from home. The library felt cosy and inviting, the children settled into a corner to enjoy a Christmas story, puzzles, colouring and wooden puzzles. The afternoon encouraged teamwork with long train track building, turn-taking with ramp play, vehicle role-play and sensory sculpting using playdough to form cookies, snowmen and repeating patterns.
Friday brought water, laughter, games and preparation. The children splashed in a glorious abundance of forest puddles, caught rain from tarps, worked as climbers scaling snowy mountains to reach the Queen’s banner and collected branches to help prepare the clubhouse firewood stocks. Their imaginative play included becoming a royal family, exploring enchanted castles filled with mischievous elves and ending the day with Witches’ Tag - a game of movement, listening, self-regulation and joyful chase across the trees.
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath