Forest school - outdoors all day at 2.5 years old

[SunSparkle]

My daughter is 2.5 years old and in a lovely nursery 4 days a week. It’s very structured, clean play and although they play outside in a playground, they never leave the nursery and the playground is rubber floored rather than a space in nature.

I’ve found a woodland forest school nursery where they have a shelter (not a building) for the toddlers to nap, and they have a hut for the toilets and potties. They also have a teepee and make temporary tarpaulin roofs to make dry spaces in the woodland but other than that the kids (15 months to 4 years) are outside from 8am to 5:30pm whatever the weather. They don’t have a building for when it’s raining or snowing but they sometimes go to the library or local museums or glasshouses.

I know I can dress my child appropriately in skiwear/layers and proper waterproofs but I’m just worried is she too young to be outside all day? I will be going home after dropping her off in winter to a lovely toasty house and she will be outside.

she seems to have enjoyed some short sessions there (they also run a playgroup) but it’s been warm while raining and not cold. She would probably do a mix of her current nursery and the woodland one eg 2 days at each.

does anyone else have a young child in all day forest school with no building? Does your child enjoy it?

My kids used to go to similar when they were young. They told us all the proper clothes we had to buy for them and proper winter boots etc. they were outside all day. No indoors even in snow etc. if you’re in the Nw you could be describing their exact preschool.
They absolutely loved it. Would send them again 100 times over. If they are in the appropriate clothing. They aren’t cold or wet and they come back happy and shattered. Definitely go for it

I think it depends on the child and if you think they would like that.
DD was always a cold child and hated being dirty, on the odd time we had snow she would go out for maybe 15 mins all bundled up and then beg to come back in to get warm. She had an afternoon at ‘forest school’ from reception to y6 and hated it, as a Guide now she refuses to camp and only just tolerates outdoor activities. She is an academic, crafty child.
She is very much her mother’s daughter 😁

DS, however, runs hot, would wear shorts all year round, would sit in a paddling pool with ice on it, loves mud and filth and snow, and always has. His favourite lessons at school are PE and outdoor activities. Holding a pen is not his thing at all. He would have relished forest school.

Do what is right for the child you have.

Only you know whether your child would like to be outside all day long. My daughter loves playing outside but certainly wouldn't want to be out all day. I wouldn't want her out all day in the heat or the rain. I'd feel dreadful sitting inside with her out in the pouring rain!
If you're not sure maybe look for a middle ground scenario, a nursery with more outside space etc?

I would want a middle ground nursery - lots of outside time but also somewhere to warm up

think about yourself being outside all day, its bloody miserable!

My now-3-year-old girl has been going to a forest nursery since she was 2 (the minimum age there). She goes five full days a week and loves it! It's amazing how much she's learned about the natural world, and the forest educators use their surroundings and the children's own curiosity to inform their activity planning. We are planning to send our son when he turns 2 next year.

I figured that once she heads off to school, her childhood will be mostly confined to schools and classrooms, so why not give her a couple of years to run around in the woods, splash in muddy puddles, get dirty and breathe fresh air? She also ends up walking a few km per day (they have to walk into the woods to get to the site, and walk back out again) and her physical stamina and agility (lots of supervised tree climbing!) are coming on in leaps and bounds. And she's so tired, she falls asleep quickly and sleeps like a rock until morning!

Mine would have hated it, especially dd2 who felt cold easily, both preferred snuggling with a book. Know your child, suits some not others

I did some work experience in a Forest School & they operated year-round, but did have a heated room in which they could go if it was very cold - not for the whole day, but just for short breaks to warm up. Toilets were obviously closed in but unheated.
The kids loved it, it was a really inspirational place.
However, be aware that if they are in a forest, the school will have to close if there are very high winds - gusts of over 40mph- as it's unsafe & unless things have changed, insurance won't cover them for that risk.

My two would have loved that but my niece cries at the thought of being cold or wet never mind actually being in the cold or wet even when she is appropriately dressed.

My kids would all hate something like that. They all enjoy playing outside but are very clear about when they want to come inside again!

There's one near me. I must say I do feel sorry for the little kids on cold wet days!

Two of mine have done two days outside all day and two days in a nursery. They loved it and I 100% recommend the Forest experience. The kids were given amazing kit and they get plenty of hot drinks, hot water bottles to keep them warm. There is a tent with a wood burner though. It's such a magical experience for the kids.

Both of my DC did Forest Schools Kindergarten. Just need to buy the correct clothing.

Polarn O Pyret for thermals and winter suit
Didrikson for gloves and Summer suit
Bogs neoprene boots
Cambridge Baby for woollen dungarees

A friend’s son did this and adored it. He’s very healthy and never ill.
i also read once that being outside a lot is really good for eyesight and how it develops - more short sighted children when they are kept indoors a lot but check this yourself if interested as no idea where i saw that!

If I asked you to be outdoors all winter for 8 hours, would you be keen to do that? In the snow and rain? If not, don’t send your child. It wouldn’t be for me and I don’t think my dc would have enjoyed it either.

Mine went to similar from 2 1/2 until he started school, 2 days/week. It was just the best place, he loved it. That said, he runs hot and he's happy in rain.

It would not have been an option for her a year ago. She was very much in need of the type of setting she’s currently in.

but now, she loves being outside. Doesn’t mind rain, loves splashing in puddles and exploring, and loves water play and washing up and pouring and mixing potions. She loves cooking and chopping and riskier play. We go to the park most days after nursery where she runs around for at least an hour and wants to play with the bigger kids.

and she doesn’t get to do a lot of the above in her current nursery but she loves it for the kids and the crafts they do.

I just think she has so much to gain from an outdoor setting. Learning how to enjoy being dirty and getting muddy. Engaging in riskier play and learning skills like den building and making obstacle courses. Negotiating with bigger kids (she would be in a class of 2.5-4 year olds). It’s less structured so she would get bored and have to set up a task or activity of her own (which wouldn’t really happen at her current nursery). She would also get to go on trips - they take them to the farm on the bus or to the market or to the local botanical gardens.

it’s just the cold and the wet I’m wondering about as I’ve never had her outside that long. They have lots of hot chocolate and lots of hot snacks like porridge, pancakes, pasta and soups all cooked over a fire and she can join in with the cooking which she loves.

difficulty is if I give up a day or two at her current nursery, and she hates the new one once it gets cold, there is no chance I will get those days back as they are oversubscribed so it’s a permanent decision.

as an adult, I don’t like dirt or cold much so I’m also keen that maybe she doesn’t turn out like me!

It sounds hellish. Going to the toilet outside, apart from in the height of summer, would just be horrible.

Our nursery is a middle ground, so they're set in an acre of land and they have Forest School sessions throughout the week, plus of course free play and access to the garden all the time, but they have the classroom for when it's really bad weather.

I love the idea of a fully outdoors nursery and I think my son would have loved it most of the time, but not in extremes of weather - he doesn't like it very hot or very cold.

Well, they will have risk assessments for things like hypothermia. If that's the only part holding you back, perhaps ask for a copy.

Humans are perfectly capable of living happy and safe outdoor lives. It's just another skill. You don't like it because you're not used to it, don't have the skillset and therefore it feels uncomfortable. Same as anything unfamiliar feels uncomfortable until we adjust/learn the skills.

If she's dressed appropriately she won't be wet when it's raining and she won't be cold when the temperature drops. But she will be doing lots of activities that sound well suited to her. So what does the weather matter?

You've clearly given it very detailed consideration about the benefits, which sound persuasive to me.

Also, you're not talking about being outdoors all day. Those hours are a third of a day. Twice a week. It's not very much at all really.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what they would do in a heatwave situation?

When the temperatures were in the mid/high thirties last year, I can't imagine it was ideal for lots of littles being out in it all day? Of course they will have been kept super well hydrated I have no doubt, but even so, it must be a bit much? There's only so many clothes you can take off!

Do they put nappies on all the kids? I bet they do. If not, most of the day must be spent dressing and undressing them to go to the toilet. Imagine, 20 kids in 20 layers of clothes, all needing a wee every 10 minutes.

Sorry, but I own a nursery, so I have a realistic view of things like this. Forest schools are fine for a couple of hours a week. All day every day is just ridiculous. The kids must be bored out of their minds. It’s a great way for the owners to save on overheads, mind you. Porridge and pancakes cooked over a fire? Must cost them two quid a day. Can you imagine the backlash if any normal nursery fed them rubbish like that? No one would put up with it.

I wouldn’t bother if I were you, OP. If it sounds too good to be true, you can guarantee it is too good to be true.

Sounds like it would cost a fortune in “appropriate outside clothing” - you’d have to have multiples of everything cos of the mud.

Also check what the policy is re wind - they might close, what provision would you have then? Thinking of work etc

Are they actually do any reading and writing or is it all outdoor play??

I'm all for being outside, but it's nice if they learn a few basics ahead of school too

Sounds bloody awful

Your instinct is clearly that the setting feels right for her and you have given a lot of thought to the benefits of the activities and approach. If it's just the keeping warm and dry that is concerning you, I really wouldn't worry - plan, but don't worry. As they say, no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. The forest school will advise on what she needs but for 2 (non-consecutive) days per week mine had
Winter
Thermal long sleeve top and bottoms - the M&S ones worked for us
Joggers and T-shirt
Cotton or wool knit jumper or fleece to layer up depending on temp
Waterproof trousers - the dungarees style ones (Didriksons or Lidl)
Waterproof coat - thin cagoule style one for spring/summer/early autumn (Didriksons or Lidl again), POP warm one for winter which kept him toasty warm, I bought in the December sale a size up every 2 years and they lasted brilliantly with tough wear
2 pairs of socks, one thin and one pair of warm boot socks
Wellies - I bought warm lined ones which he wore once but if they get cold feet these are a good option
Warm hat and neck warmer style scarf
Gloves- waterproof ski gloves are good though mine never wore them, except the day it snowed
Change of clothes in his bag in case of getting wet
The forest school kept some spare sets of waterproofs and wellies in case of emergency
There was a big bell tent with a heater which they used for lunch and quiet activities. They also had access to an indoor space for really bad weather but tbh I think he was in there on 2 days over 2.5 years.

For summer, the woods were cooler and shaded. Long sleeve t-shirts and long cotton trousers, walking trainers when it really wasn't welly weather, sun hat.

Toilet was fine and he potty trained while there (in the summer)

He loved the unstructured activities, skilfully supported and scaffolded by the staff. He visibly gained independence and confidence and self-reliance. He also went to a more standard preschool but the forest school days were the ones he loved the best.