Parent Tip of the Week: Packing for Forest School

At Forest School, your little adventurers are not only gaining confidence by exploring and pushing their limits, but they are also becoming more self-sufficient. One way you can encourage their independence at home is by involving them in packing their own backpacks. This not only helps them keep track of what they bring to school but also allows them to make weather-based decisions on what to bring. Plus, it's great practice for getting everything organized, packed up, and ready to go - which will definitely come in handy when we're out in our Nature classrooms. So let's get them moving towards more self-sufficiency with a little backpack responsibility!

What should you send with your child each day? Hopefully, the first month of forest school was a great opportunity to learn about what your children feel most comfortable wearing, how much they can realistically carry in their backpacks, and what they actually enjoy eating and drinking while having a blast. If your little one didn't enjoy having wet socks or putting dry feet in wet shoes, no worries! Now we know and can pack extra socks and maybe even an extra pair of shoes. It's always a smart idea to include a small camp towel and a complete set of dry clothes.

Did your child finish all their treats but leave the main part of their lunch untouched? Perhaps there's something else that can give them the protein and energy they need and that they'll be more likely to eat.

Did your little adventurer complain that their backpack is too heavy? Let's try leaving all the toys and stuffies at home. It's a bit disappointing when their special toys get dirty or wet, or the worst, BROKEN, not to mention it can be distracting in class and limit their exploration of all the amazing things nature has to offer. This is a learning process for all of us, and we're in it together! Our teachers want your kids to be as comfortable and satisfied as possible so they can truly thrive in nature!