Benefits of Forest School
Hazel asked me to contribute to her blog by answering the question “what are the benefits of forest school?”
I thought I’d start by explaining what Forest school is as its often perceived by adult as “just getting dirty playing in the woods!” The official answer is “Forest School is a child-centred learning process, providing learner inspired, hands-on experiences in the natural environment. It’s creative and can increase a child’s confidence as they problem-solve and learn to manage risks.”
But what does this mean in reality, for me forest school is a long term process where a child gets to access the outdoor regularly and they get to direct their own discovery, exploration and learning. They explore nature, use fire and tools and most importantly choose their own learning. The child determines the rate, direction, depth and breadth of their learning
Forest school encourages children to be free thinkers, planners, tinkerers, fixer uppers, basher downers, builders and explorers. Done right forest school will bind your child to the earth whilst letting them reach for the sky and maybe even fly!
The benefits of forest school are complex and many. Research has shown that children can benefit in a multitude of ways ranging from confidence to social, emotional, intellectual, physical and language development (Murray & O’Brien, 2005). (different Murray!!)
My own experience and Case studies have shown children:
Develop self-regulation skills.
Cope with and learn from failure.
Build resilience (the skill of coping with risk and failure).
Gain a sense of achievement.
Increase motivation and concentration.
Expand their vocabulary and communication skills.
Feel empowered and have new perspectives.
Build positive relationships with adults and peers.
Have overall improved wellbeing and mental health.
Improve problem solving.
I have found that the experiences and activities offered at forest school are improve the children’s resilience and self-confidence. Because the adults will support them but not complete the task for them, I have seen a marked improvement in children’s ability to attempt an activity and articulate the kind of help they need rather than just saying “I can’t do this”.
I provide a limited number of tools and this means that the children need to use good communication and negotiation skills. Team work skills are also developed as a number of the activities and tools require team work.
The children have learn to listen carefully to instructions and now follow a wide range of complicated yet necessary protocols. They develop an awareness of others needs and risk assessment skills.
The tool work we do helps with fine and gross motor skills which in turn supports handwriting and readiness for classroom learning. Just being in the Forest develops their awareness of other’s needs and their place in the community.
Forest school helps children work, learn and play with a wider range of children and they become aware of their skills and skills of others to complete a task.
Being in nature supports the development of positive mental health, it gives the children a fundamental connection with nature and a grounding which is necessary for a positive mindset.
Even playing with the mud has its benefit, Scientists have discovered something that children have always known – playing in the mud can lift your mood. Recent studies have revealed that dirt contains microsopic bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae which increases the levels of seratonin in our brains, helping to relax, soothe and calm. The same release of serotonin that occurs when playing in mud has also been shown to improve cognitive function.
Over the last 10 years I have delivered forest school to children ages 2 to 16, will volunteers who ranged from 16 -65 and the overwhelming benefit all of them get from Forest school is a sense of wellbeing and belonging. If your child hasn’t had the opportunity to engage with forest school I suggest you seek out a fabulous provider and give it a go, its delivered in a range of ways parent and toddler groups, preschools, via schools, home schooling groups and after school and holiday clubs. Like a powerful oak connect with the earth and reach for the sky and the world will seem a better place!
Rachel Murray offers consultancy around play, outdoor learning and Forest school and can be contacted at Rachel.playfulsolutions@gmail.com