Nature Tots Playgroup- THURSDAYS Term 4

Nature Tots is focused on slightly older children than Nature Nest- from 1 year to 5 years old but younger siblings are welcome to join (just bare in mind som activities may not be suitable for them). The sessions are run on Thursdays from 9.30-11.30am; the dates for the term sessions are:

Thursday 24th, 31st October, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th November, 5th, 12th, 19th December (9 weeks). There is also a session on Sunday 3rd November (times to follow) for families which is included in this ticket price, hopefully an opportunity for the whole family to come along and get to know each other and do some projects on the site together.

The rhythm of a typical Nature Tots session;

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• Arrive and settle into some free play/exploring while we wait for the group to arrive
• Wash hands, gather at Base Camp for shared morning tea, fire fairy and some chatter/story time
• Free play/exploration/connecting/relaxing in our wild garden for the majority of the session and the option of more focused activity for those wanting to. Over time the activity will involve learning how to use tools, build campfires and nature craft/planting etc. 
• Gather at Base Camp for singing to close the session

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The sessions provide an opportunity for you and your little one/s to be immersed in and connect with nature. With lots of opportunities for sensory play, imaginative play, physical exploration and quiet spots to just 'be.' In line with the Forest School ethos, we encourage families to attend regularly and over a long period to see the biggest impact on your child's holistic development. We run the sessions in blocks to help families build relationships, everyone to gain confidence in the site and with the rhythms of the session, to get to know the children so we can tailor sessions to their needs/interests and to help develop particular skills over time. It is also important for the children to experience being in nature throughout the different seasons and in all kinds of weather. Often we as adults can be put off going outside in some weathers, but parents/carers often comment on the fact that they are so glad they got out in it and feel much better for it, feeling a bit 'weathered' makes us feel alive.. plus that warm cup of tea after is so much better!

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The space for these sessions is wild and wonderful; uneven ground, trip hazards galore, lots of things to climb, plenty of natural resources and a few added goodies. This all helps children to develop their physical skills, foster awareness, manage risk and problem solve. If this is all new to you- don't worry, we can help give you ideas and skills for being outdoors with your family. In addition to the wild site and natural resources, there will be some activity provocations that your child can explore in their own way. We like to involve books, sand, water, music and small world play in our sessions, as well as opportunities for craft/creative exploration. New activities or areas will be set up over the course of the weeks and some tool use will be introduced as the children's skills develop as we get to know the children. We will also have campfires (seasonal) during some sessions. We will model language to help promote children's risky play in a safe way and will use the environments wonderful natural resources to support open ended play.

The sessions are designed for you as much as your children. A space to connect with others, feel supported, be in a calm natural environment and maybe even find your inner child to re wild! We hope that we create the feel of a parenting village, a home away from home. Although babies wont be able to access all of the areas, there are still many benefits for them being in the space- the sensory experience for babies of little things like the flicker of light between the leaves is quite something and there will be lots of benefits for their caregiver. Please bare in mind that there are more hazards for younger children; the floor is quite uneven so brings more challenge for wobbly walkers and there will be natural materials around that could post choking risk so younger children will need extra supervision.

We will email more information on what to bring but we invite parent/carers to bring a piece of cut up fruit for a shared morning tea platter, some additional snacks and warm drinks will be provided.

The sessions are run by Sian who is a UK qualified primary school teacher (with an Early Years Specialism), Forest School Leader and  has a Kids Yoga teaching qualification.

FAQ:

Why do I need to sign up to a whole term? 

We run the sessions in blocks becuase the Forest School approach  and being in nature benefits children (who attend regularly) in so many ways; greater independence, imagination, improved social and communication skills, physical development, risk management, understanding of the world, the ability to nurture, resilience, confidence and also their physical and mental health. Attending over a few weeks means we can get to know the families, plan for their needs and interests and build relationships. It also gives everybody the chance to really settle into the environment, rhythms and group.

What do you do in bad weather? 

- We get in our wet weather gear and have extra fun jumping in the muddy puddles! We do have some tarps we can put up to shelter some areas but the children normally just want to play out in the rain! In the event of storms or high winds, sessions are cancelled for everyone's safety due to high canopy trees. We are so busy looking after our little ones, we often forget about ourselves, but we strongly recommend that parent/carers also dress in waterproof clothing as being wet and cold is no fun for anyone!

For more FAQ, head to our FAQ page on the website or send us an email if you can't find what you are looking for. 

Kit List

The sessions are 100% outdoors, rain or shine! We have tarpaulins we put up and have some natural shelter however the children must be dressed appropriately so are ready for all weathers! There is no such thing as bad weather... just bad clothing!

Kit list:

Fitted long sleeved and long legged base layer.

Then one or two (on coldest days) top layers (thin and then thick jumper or thick jumper and coat and tights or leggings and trousers on top).

Waterproof suit on top.

One or two pairs of socks.

Wellingtons/closed toe shoes.

A warm hat, gloves and snood/scarf.

Complete change of clothes in a small backpack and usual nappy bag items.

Water bottle 

Parents please bring: 

A travel mug/cup with a lid for a warm hot drink for yourself and your children if you wish, there will be hot water and teas/coffees for you to help yourself to throughout the session.

A piece of fruit (or snacks) for shared morning tea and some extra snacks for your child during the session if they are likely to get hungry.

Waterproofs and layers to keep you comfortable during the session in all weathers.

Booking

Book online and ensure you have filled out a registration form for your child and a health and safety disclosure form. 

Cancellations

In the event of very high winds or stormy weather, the session may need to be cancelled as it is not safe to carry out sessions in such weather. In this event, you will be contacted as soon as possible and will either be refunded or where possible offered an alternative date.

Due to admin, planning and preparation we do not offer refunds on tickets once they have been bought however in circumstances where Little Forest Feet deems a refund necessary, 75% of the ticket price will be refunded to cover admin and booking fees. 

We hope to see you soon! Questions? Please send them to littleforestfeet@outlook.com