Winter in the Forest - January 2023

LK, Director of FORESTplay & Certified Child Life Specialist • January 22, 2023

Winter in the River’s Edge forest is truly a special time. Children enjoy seeing the forest change throughout the seasons. Winter is the only time you can see great distances throughout our forest, leading to some interesting views and discoveries.

Mapping and cardinal directions

Our children have greatly enjoyed becoming familiar with the four directions and using compasses to adventure through the forest. One adventure we stayed North, stopping a long the way to ensure we were continuing on the right direction, while other times we liked exploring camp and noticing what direction different landmarks were, such as the tree house and mud kitchen. When returning to camp, we’ve made maps to increase childrens’ awareness of their surroundings.

Discovering ice!

Another change the groups have LOVED to see is the ice and frost that winter brings. From the beginning of the day in the windy field, the children immediately share awe and wonder as to why the grass is covered in white. We even went on several ice adventures so far, leading us to a swampy area where we found a huge area covered in thick ice. Children challenged themselves to throw rocks at the ice and try to break the pieces to discover what is underneath. Ice also helps signify the winter season, leading to discussions about where forest life goes in the winter and other changes.

Learning to listen to our bodies

Changing temperatures offer the perfect opportunity to help children develop their interoceptive sense. Interoception is extremely important for regulation and awareness. When children do not have strong interoceptive senses, they are unable to understand their needs such as being hot, cold, hungry, or tired. Body check ins throughout the day in the winter time allow children to recognize if they have on too many layers or what sensations they are experiencing.

Building fires together

Winter weather also presents the opportunity to build fires together and practice fire safety techniques. We teach children fire safety rules such as three points of contact with the ground and not to run or play in the fire pit area. Many groups enjoy working as a team to collect sticks and help set up the logs for burning. Sometimes, we are able to cook over the fire together, making baked apples, soup, and more.

Bird Seed and Bird Watching

Winter is the perfect time to see birds that stay in the area year round, including woodpeckers, chickadees, and wrens. With the trees being bare, it’s much easier to spot birds flying near camp. We practice staying calm and quiet to listen for birds and then many kids enjoy trying to identify different types. We use bird books to help children learn their sounds and practice identification.

Finding rocks, sticks, and gumballs

Around the holidays, our FORESTtherapy peer groups used gumballs and sticks to create their own tree ornaments. Our homeschool group enjoyed working on their counting skills by collecting gumballs and rocks while the FORESTplay groups incorporated these findings into their pretend play. Natural items such as those we find on our adventures allow children to assign their own meaning. For example, a stick can become a magic wand or fishing rod. The possibilities are endless and non-definitive play materials inspire creative and expressive play.

We are excited to see what the rest of Winter brings for us in the forest!

< Older Post

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By LK Toohey, MS, CCLS, Forest Guide • March 11, 2022

Spending significant time in nature has been linked to better overall physical and mental health, in addition to children having better academic performance. In all of our River’s Edge programs, children are moving their bodies and testing limits as they play. The natural materials provided allow for creativity and expression, in addition to the development of physical strengths. Throughout the winter, we have been taking many hikes and ventures to see what we could find in the forest and what changes may have occurred in the colder weather. There is rarely a dull moment as children begin to notice frozen water along the creek, frost covering the ground, many nut shells surrounding the trees, and more. As children become more experienced in the forest, we observe them beginning to notice natural elements on their own and showing them to us as guides, rather than us being always the first to point a discovery out.

NATURE, the ultimate sensory experience for young children!

By LK Toohey, MS, CCLS, Forest Guide • February 25, 2022

Proprioception tells us how much force or muscle strength to use for different activities. This sense helps us know how to complete tasks such as picking things up gently, knowing how to put something down without force, and being overall more aware of our bodies. Nature offers plenty of full bodied play that will stimulate the proprioceptive sense. When children build forts with palettes or planks, they are engaging in “heavy work.” Heavy work provides sensory input and can be therapeutic as children focus to pick up a heavy log and have to coordinate with their body. Other examples may include: pushing a swing, pulling the rope swing or a heavy wagon, or digging with a shovel.

Benefits of time in nature & a longer, slower childhood!

By LK Toohey, MS, CCLS, Forest Guide • February 21, 2022

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlights the importance of a longer, slower childhood. Nature can greatly contribute to a longer, slower childhood and positively influence all areas of child development. What does this mean? Children need enriching and "varied" positive experiences for their brains to remain malleable for longer periods of time. Children learn there are many possibilities and often more than one answer to a question when they spend significant time in nature. The forest gives space for children to follow their curiosity and wonder. Nature is constantly changing, encouraging children to discover and play in novel ways. It’s all about the brain! T he architecture of the brain includes and ongoing process of neuron activity! The early years are the most active time period for neural connections to be formed. Connections are early in the brain build the foundation for later connections. In summary, the early childhood experiences will shape how well the brain functions through adulthood.

Rain Gear for Kids – West River, MD – River’s Edge Forest Play

Winter and Rain Gear for Kids

By websitebuilder • December 7, 2021

Finding the right gear to keep your kids warm and dry shouldn't be so complicated! Here are the brands we have tested and recommend! Note: River's Edge is an Amazon Associate which means we earn from qualifying purchases when you use the amazon links below! Thanks for your support!