AIBU to hate Forest School?

[thetreelooksnice]

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!

What exactly is Forest School? I'm abroad so don't know.

I think it’s fab! Some fresh air, a chance for different children to shine and for them all to have fun! I feel a bit sad if children at the top end of primary school feel it’s too young for them... but then I love the outdoors me

It wouldn't be the cost so much for ds, more his hatred of too much clothing and inability to regulate temperature. Oh and he hates wind....he's more an indoor sort of boy!

My ds has forest school this afternoon he’s 9. He has FS every Thursday afternoon, they build fires, toast marshmallows and do all manner of exciting things. In the summer they had an evening there and cooked their dinner. He wears all the correct layers and is never cold.
It’s good for kids to do that sort of stuff.

There was a video on bbc news recently saying that the average prisoner spends more time outside than the average child.

I think Forrest school is an awesome idea

The supermarkets are selling all the layers you need for pretty reasonable prices.

It's not like you can't get involved without being kitted out in John Lewis' finest.

I dont think so anyway.

* Happiest camper:* I love forest school. Everything is more fun outdoors

This^ exactly my opinion! It really irritates me that DDs village school has a forest, plenty of grounds, a stream running along it and they almost never go outside! Makes me wonder why we left London...

Its really good for children to be outside especially if they're myopic..

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aos.13403/full

There are loads of studies if anyone doesn't like this one

All children need vitamin D and its really good sometimes for children to make their own entertainment.

Forest school is good; tell them to stop whingeing.

I’m guessing this is a new(ish) thing? Not come across it during DS school career (now 16) - we just had the odd nature reserve trips a couple of times a year - but I think my DS would have loved it - even at 13 and would still enjoy it now! I think there are a few places you can pick up cold/wet weather gear for not too much money - but I can also see that there are many families who would still struggle.

Honestly this kind of trepidation and anxiety about letting children go Outside without being togged up like Chris Bonnington is exactly why Forest School exists in the first place. Children really are growing up thinking it's dangerous to get a bit cold or wet or muddy.

I think it's great and my kids love it. Yes it's a bit cold but it toughens em up - kids are too soft these days.
Our school builds a fire and they roast marshmallows, dd comes home stinking of woodsmoke but I think they're really lucky, in my inner-city school with zero green spaces it'd would've been unheard of to do something like this.

Those who don't have access to Forest School, you could consider giving the Woodcraft Folk a try. they do a lot of very similar activities.

Just watched the West Rise video, looks great but presumably all the outdoor activities are balanced by classroom work, the kids would really have exciting things to write about and read up their practical activities. Wish all schools were like this.

My DS loves it. But he’s 3 and I can send him in a all in one waterproof suit and Paw Patrol wellies

They hunt for things that the teacher sets out and share a flask of hot chocolate.

But I can really see why older kids wouldn’t enjoy it as much as a 3yr old....

underneaththeash

That is interesting about myopia. I am very (very very - get a voucher from the government and everything) short sighted and one of my biggest fears is that the kids will inherit.

Luckily I am one of those people who are like dogs - I need to be exercised in the fresh air daily - so the kids spend lots of time out of doors. And now I won’t even be fibbing when I say it is for their benefit!

If a child in Britain doesn’t have a coat, they won’t be going outside enough. Most schools have supplies of fleeces, waterproofs and wellies for the kids who haven’t got their own.

The idea of Forest School came over here from Scandinavia - where they really embrace the outdoors! Slightly biased as I am a Forest School teacher and run sessions at my local primary. I see such positive steps in social skills, self esteem and self motivation. Kids who don't always do so well in the classroom can thrive on what they can achieve outdoors. Proper knowledge of the group you are working with means you should be able to engage them and adapt your sessions to what they need.

My SEN DS loves Forest School, he is non verbal but arrives home babbling and happy the afternoons he has spent there. It is an amazing idea!
As for the cost of clothing you can buy wellies, a thick padded coat, gloves and hats at Primark which is what I did.
I cannot understand parents who don’t like the idea of their DC getting muddy and god forbid go out into the cold weather and discover the beauty of nature and wildlife.

Mine would have liked it if the instructor was not obsessed with forcing my dc to wear loads of crappy cotton layers he had in the back of his car. Dc had thermals on and a fleece in his bag but like riverside2 he preferred not to feel stuffy and would ha ve put his own layers on if needed.
My dc all like the outdoors but the coercive faux fun just didn't work and the cotton layers thing was the icing on the cake.

Crackerjacket- forest school is being outside, looking at hedgerows or ideally being in a wooded area, just spending time in nature. Sitting down and looking at flowers, trees, insects, birds in the sky, listening, smelling and feeling the outside, without being surrounded man made stuff- simple, back to our roots and v rewarding. Layering is easy, what child doesn't have something they are growing out of? A base layer could just be a too small long sleeve top or pj bottoms, it just needs to trap heat by your core, then a looser top/joggers and coat, gloves and hat. 2 socks maybe and most schools have welly stockpiles and waterproof trousers. A couple of hours outside is usually the max by the time everyone is togged up, it's not a whole day usually

Definitely YABU. Forest School is brilliant for children. Far too many kids spend too much time inside, in front of screens. Being outside in the fresh air is good for them physically and mentally. Agree with others that they need better clothing.

We live in a rural area but none of my DC have encountered Forest School. Luckily they have a really outdoorsy cub and scout group with a tiny patch of woodland . They are always in it, cooking, bonfires, climbing, night hikes etc. Not every cub/scout/guide group is like this, it depends on the leaders and the premises but definitely worth visiting a few to see what they offer. Agree need robust outdoor clothes to stay warm but learning this is a great life skill too.

Ok, thanks, hindsight.

Good grief, there are so many MNers who seem to be phobic about the outdoors. They talk about it as though it's an utterly alien environment. No wonder so many kids know absolutely sod all about nature.

It's literally the only outdoor thing my dd 11 with HF ASD enjoys. She'll happily spend a couple of hours in the cold and damp doing that.