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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to hate Forest School?

403 replies

thetreelooksnice · 01/02/2018 18:08

That's it. My kids hate it. They get cold and muddy. It was OK when they were younger but now they want to stay in the warm to study!

OP posts:
YerAuntFanny · 02/02/2018 17:26

YANBU, my 4yo LOVES being outdoors but like me feels the cold terribly so she hates woodschool in winter. It doesn't help that she seems to catch every bug going.

Also wrt to finances, our area has a thriving "uniform bank" which is like a food bank but for school essentials. They receive around 50 referrals a week from social work and health professionals for families who struggle to buy things such as school bags, lunch bags, sturdy shoes and even school socks. Just chucking some sale stuff in from Lidl for one or two afternoons a week isn't really an option for them.

If schools insist on it then they should provide the equipment for the children to be comfortable and enjoy the experience!

Mummadeeze · 02/02/2018 17:39

I actually pay for my 9 year old to do it after school as she loves it so much. Am not convinced that it isn't just down to the fact that they get given hot chocolate that makes her so keen though!

teabag20048 · 02/02/2018 17:45

I used to volunteer to help out, there were a number of children clearly not enjoying it crying in the rain, its not much fun being cold and wet. However there were some who did enjoy it.

camperlass · 02/02/2018 17:53

They don't do enough Forest School at my son's school in my opinion! But then we are outdoorsy types who do all that horrid muddy stuff like camping, rock climbing, tree climbing, damming streams, hunting bugs, collecting fossils, cooking sausages over open fires, guitar strumming, star gazing, rubbish stuff like that...

sinceyouask · 02/02/2018 18:02

I would have fucking hated it.
DS1 would probably love it.
DS2 would only like it in good weather.

Of course YANBU to hate it. Not everyone enjoys and gets benefit from the same things. It would be really silly to insist otherwise!

GreenTulips · 02/02/2018 18:05

there were a number of children clearly not enjoying it crying in the rain, its not much fun being cold and wet

Well I bet the ones crying were the normal high fliers ....

Headofthehive55 · 02/02/2018 18:09

I think it's pointless. I end up trying to teach my child maths because he's been faffing around making a den.
I'd like to spend the time I'm teaching him maths to let him faff round making a den at home.

whopureedmypeas · 02/02/2018 18:09

My DD does Forest school OP she is a rep always comes home covered in mud so YANBU.
Thought it was just our school that did this though where are you based? If you don.t mind me asking!

Headofthehive55 · 02/02/2018 18:12

We are outdoorsy, and have the clothing. But I think it's a waste of time when the curriculum is so crowded. Arts are squeezed out singing etc, no time to learn spellings, no you can do that at home. instead of playing making dens

Strongmummy · 02/02/2018 18:16

Yanbu. Some people like being outside in all weather, some don’t. I don’t. I’d fucking hate it. And people who bang on about how great it is all the time get on my nerves

Fuckitletshavevino · 02/02/2018 18:17

I’ve never heard of forest School. Is it in the uk? I should google but that means coming off mn 😩

stargirl1701 · 02/02/2018 18:30

Fascinating thread.

I was teaching a P6/7 class during an HMIe inspection and our Forest Schools day was Wednesday during that inspection.

The focus was using a formula to calculate tree heights on our site as that was what we were doing in Maths. It was an additional context to develop understanding.

Totally relevant and developmentally appropriate. Education Scotland came back to film us as a good practice exemplar.

frozenlake · 02/02/2018 18:50

My pair only had forest school at nursery but done well it is great. Not every DC will like it, not every DC likes every activity at school, that doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea for them to try it.

earlylifecrisis · 02/02/2018 18:51

Well my DD is only reception but she adores it and I think it's really good for them to get out in all weathers. In fact she loves it so much that she wants to join the Forest School Club which runs after school and subject herself to an extra 1.5 hours per week!
I'm glad she wants to do it, i think outdoor stuff is so good for DC in this era where screens are so available and tempting .
Not sure about DC age of ops but I do think it's good for primary DC

Dancergirl · 02/02/2018 19:00

I have older children but I do like the idea of forest school.

I am also not one for being precious about sending children out in rain, cold etc.

But aren't all those layers of clothing bulky and uncomfortable if children are spending long periods of time in them?

Headofthehive55 · 02/02/2018 19:06

star yes, I did calculating height of trees with my kids - at home - a nice extra add on. Fun at home, kids enjoyed it. But now, the schools get the nice, extra add on, but I'm stuck practising the basics at home with my younger ones with no time for the fun stuff.

Sarahrellyboo1987 · 02/02/2018 19:08

Either they’re doing forest school wrong or your kids are really annoying.
Just STFU and get outside where kids really belong!

Headofthehive55 · 02/02/2018 19:08

A bit is fun, but ours seem to do an awful lot.

Headofthehive55 · 02/02/2018 19:11

What is really annoying is that we are very rural. So lots of children will walk to school and play in the wood where they do forest school. Daily.

stargirl1701 · 02/02/2018 19:11

@Headofthehive55 We cannot mark learning as secure until we see it in multiple contexts though.

What about the children whose parents would never do this? School has to provide a breadth of experience. The PEF funding is all about this.

Scamp48 · 02/02/2018 19:15

I’m so pleased that someone started this thread as it’s exactly what i’ve been thinking for a while! I like mine being outdoors but we already get loads of fresh air and exercise through bike/horse riding and generally fun and frolics outside in our own spare time. I always think the whole “being outdoors every day of the year” thing is a knee jerk reaction to the idea that some children never go outside and are glued to their computer games, but as per usual the middle classes take it to a whole new level. Talking as someone who has had to work in the countryside from a very early age, there are some days where everyone should be allowed to stay indoors if they want to. On really grotty days, farmers and labourers catch up on their paperwork, and for a reason!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 02/02/2018 19:22

We’re in a big city. Not many forests round here. Grin

The nurseries and reception classes seem to do a few nature walks to the local park to study leaves, look for insects etc etc. No proper forest school as such as far as I’m aware. If there is it’s probably just a few logs in the clearing of Of some local Woods

How much teaching about nature does one actually NEED in the city?!

Headofthehive55 · 02/02/2018 19:22

There are different experiences though. For example my younger children haven't walked through an underpass or walked past a high rise flat, let alone been in one! yet woods and fields, for everyone here are the norm.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 02/02/2018 19:25

I mean, all the national curriculum subjects studied in school contain a massive amount of knowledge to learn. It takes years to get to know a subject really well. There are only so many things one needs to learn about trees when you’re growing up on a council estate.

Sweetbee15 · 02/02/2018 19:31

I am a forest school leader, it is beneficial in so many ways self confidence, self esteem , team building and learning skills. I ran a school for young people with disabilities.
As long as the children are dressed correctly they can go out in any weather. Best job ever.

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