Tasty treats off the fire . . .
Forest sessions are teaching kids about the great outdoors
If you go down to the woods today... you’ll get a tasty hot snack.
Fun outdoor sessions at Linwood Community Child Care teach youngsters all about taking responsibility for themselves and their environment.
The forest space has been a huge hit with the little ones since it came into use three years ago.
Three to five-year-olds have been cooking up a storm in the woodland area for a while.
However, the scheme is now being rolled out to those aged two, who are loving getting their hands dirty.
Julie Hughes, nursery manager, is delighted with how the space has turned out and the safety lessons it helps staff teach the children.
She said: “We have had the forest space for three years now, and the older children have been making the most of it, making their morning snack over the fire and it has been a huge success.
“Now we are having the two year-olds come down and they have been cooking their potato scones and marshmallows for their morning snack.
“It is all about learning and selfrisk assessing.
“Learning that fire can be good, for things like cooking, but also dangerous.
“We have the kids doing their own risk assessments and that is really important.
“It is things like putting a stick in the water to see how deep it is. It is a strong learning environment for them all.”
And Julie says simply being outdoors can have a huge impact on the learning and development of children at that age.
She added: “Being outside is great for their development and their social wellbeing.
“It gives them a chance to be physical and it certainly tires them out.
“We go out in all weather but especially just now when the weather is nice. It is great fun for them all.
“And I think the parents are grateful as the kids tend to get a good nights sleep after a day outside don’t they.”