What is Twiglets?
Twiglets
This is our weekly 'Parent Stay and Play' Forest School programme.
VERY LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE STILL FOR SEP 2024, Enquire ASAP!
We have Twiglet parent play and stay group on a Monday 10-12pm, Wednesday 10-12pm and Fridays 10-12pm.
A time for parents and their toddlers to have a play adventure in the woods! We will follow the forest school ethos so the children will guide the session and decide what it is they would like to do in the session, with play being at the centre of everything we do! Our sessions welcome you to play with your little ones, join in with the activities and connect with nature. This is a stay and play group for you to experience with your child.
The children will have the opportunity to learn how to light a fire, play in hammocks, play in a mud kitchen, make natural crafts, sing, read stories and play games in the woods! We will also cook a selection of campfire snacks.
Our sessions also offer parents a space to chat to each other and make new friends.
We have always said this group is just as much for the parents as it is the children! We understand now, even more than ever new parents need support, our weekly group not only offers children a space to be free, wild and connected to nature, but also provides the parents with a space to be mindful, time to talk to other parents and uninterrupted time to play with your little ones.
Our terms are booked as a 12-week term to keep in line with the forest school principles that it is a long-term programme rather than as one off sessions. The sessions are run by qualified forest school practitioners. We run on a high staff to child ratio, with 3 members of staff facilitating every session.
We often get asked what age does my child need to be? Really there is no age minimum or maximum! A child of any age will be immersed in nature and have a variety of experiences and opportunities to explore, most of the children attending Twiglets are age 18months-5 years old.
If you would like a space in one of our Twiglet groups, please just send us an email with your childs age, the day you would prefer and a contact email address.
We often have waiting lists so please do message us as early as possible. 12 week term : £180
Our Twiglets programme is designed to follow the forest school principles of being long term, therefore most children remain with us until they move onto school. We work on an auto enrolment basis, so your child keeps their space until you provide us with 1 months’ notice that you are leaving.
Parents are responsible for their own children at all times and must remain on site.
Winter has arrived!
Winter has arrived!
Woah the weather has turned rather quickly! The frost is appearing, the de icer is coming out and the layers are now an essential!
But… all weather play is so beneficial and important, not only for the children but you as parents/carers too!!
Playing outside in autumn, winter, and early spring, each present their own unique opportunities for exploration and learning.
We wanted to squash some comments that often float around this time of year but also share some important tips!... our biggest tips are..... keep moving and layer up!
“My child will get poorly if they go out in the cold”
It is not exposure to the cold that cause these viruses. In fact, it’s likely to be increased exposure to poorly ventilated indoor environments, where bacteria and viruses live. By encouraging outdoor play in winter, children gain much needed exposure to fresh air and Vitamin D, while avoiding bacteria. Obviously if a child is already unwell or has a delicate immune system this may differ.
“I will come this term but only on the warmer days”
The beauty of forest school is that the children build a connection with the staff , other children and of course the environment and space. They experience the seasonal changes in the site and observe how nature adapts to new weather conditions and seasons. Their confidence and independence builds as they become more familiar with the people and space around them and this is when you can then build on skills such as tool work and risky play. Sporadic or inconsistent attendance undoubtedly slows down some of this progress and magic.
In order to enjoy and remain warm during our sessions no matter the weather you and your child will NEED to wear LAYERS, LAYERS, LAYERS!!!! We also have a few other tips…........
Exposing your children (and yourself!) to all weathers and the woodland through all the seasons is so beneficial and not only builds their immune systems but their
Over time of regular exposure to all weathers, the more resilient they will get! And before you know it they wont even notice when its cold or wet as warm layers will just be the norm and the play opportunities it offers will shine through.
Don’t forget…
1. Wool, thermal base layer
2. Fleece
3. Warm jumper
4. Waterproof outerwear
5. Snow boots or walking boots
6. Accessories… gloves, fleece lined/wool hat that covers the ears, wool/thick socks.
If anyone needs any recommendations for clothing or what order to put the layers on please always reach out to us and out parent community! Were in this together!
Winter tips!
Layers!
Accessories
Layers!
You want at least 3 or even 4 layers on the cold days. A wool base layer or thermals, a fleece, a warm jumper and then a waterproof outer layer. Thick tights can also work as a great base layer for everyone! This way, you wont need thick padded snow suits which actually can restrict movement causing them to get even colder! The idea is that they have good layers and nothing too thick and bulky as then they can remain active…which in turn keeps them warm!
Shoes
Accessories
Layers!
Ditch the wellies!!! Now that its colder, we recommend walking boots, snow boats, bogs and if you must use wellies….ensure they have warm wool socks or a wool insert/fleece lining. Traditional rubber wellies are FREEZING and do not insulate any heat. Ensure you don’t double sock either as this can restrict circulation and movement adding to the cold feeling!
Accessories
Accessories
Rescue Snacks!
We recommend snoods, fleece lined warm hats, wrisities, and thin gloves. The big padded mittens or gloves again can make it hard to use their hands at forest school, which only restricts what they can access and the lack of movement doesn’t help with keeping warm! We recommend multiple pairs of cheap magic gloves, as then when they get wet in the mud kitchen or rain, you can just swap for another pair. Or fleece writsties are also great for the slightly warmer days.
Rescue Snacks!
Language and mindset
Rescue Snacks!
The children will use more of their energy to keep warm when its colder, and as we want them to keep moving as much as possible they need to be fuelled! A flask of warm soup , warm juice or oat snack bars are always good, you want snacks they don’t need to take their gloves off to eat! We will plan our snacks to be warming and refuelling ones to help too!
Language and mindset
Language and mindset
Language and mindset
This is probably the one that can have the biggest impact! Children pick up on our language about the seasons and the way we behave. So its really important to try to talk about winter in a positive way. Lets face it, were all parents too, and going out when its cold with children can take more planning and a little more motivation! But… If you truly believe in the magic and benefits of outdoor play I promise you the effort is worth it. Highlight all the magic of winter…. The crunchy sparkles in the frost, the ice in the mud kitchen, the lovely warm fire, the fresh crisp air and the amazing feeling you have after being outdoors in winter!
The benefits!
Language and mindset
Language and mindset
We are fortunate that we do not have arctic winters like some other countries. When I lived in Canada and we regularly woke up to -20 and the toddlers still walked to school, still played at the parks and it was never a question whether they would go outdoors! In the UK our winter s occasionally go into the minus but usually dont. So they are cold, but not arctic.
We know, that getting ouside with children when its cold can be tough. But with a little planning and preperation, it can be SO beneficial!
- leads to better sleep
- improves the vascular system
- builds a strong immune system
- builds resilience
- Supports Vitamin D absorption
Whilst you and your child may need a little more of a push to get out in winter, its such a wonderful time of year to experience nature, and you will walways feel better for getting out! That cosy feeling when you get back in the warmth and your cheeks are rosy is our favourite!
About Us
Twiglets has been awarded as a recongised provider for Forest School by the FSA!
“As soon as we saw that the Forest School Association had a Recognised Forest School Provider scheme we knew that we wanted to ensure our Forest School offered high quality Forest School and that one day we hoped to achieve this recognition. Our children and families love their weekly Twiglets sessions in the woods and our whole team of staff are fully engaged and committed to our long term forest school programmes. We hope that this recognition we have been awarded by the Forest School Association will offer reassurance that our Twiglets sessions follow the Forest School ethos and meet all the principles of Forest School. We are very thankful for this award and appreciate that there are not many other Forest Schools around that have been awarded this so we are incredibly proud.”
Fireflies Forest School, Jessica Brocklebank.
A message from the FSA...
“Good Forest School practice is being followed by dedicated Forest School professionals all over the UK. We believe that the FSA Recognised Forest School Provider scheme will provide these schools and organisations with the means of demonstrating the quality of their work to parents and those who fund their work. It will also help promote their work as they will be found on the FSA publicly searchable map. Forest School is a distinct learning approach based on a set of 6 principles. Our scheme helps people identify those providers who are following good Forest School practice and distinguishes them from other outdoor education that is not Forest School. We therefore congratulate Fireflies Forest School on their success at becoming an approved ‘good practice’ provider.”
The scheme takes providers through an evidence based assessment process ensuring that their practice meets all the necessary requirements to operate professionally in line with the 6 good practice principles of Forest School. It also gives providers a chance to take stock of their programme(s) to see if any improvements need to be made.
For parents wondering where to send their children, or even for decision makers such as Local Authorities and Academies, it is important to know that a provider is operating professionally. Are they working in accordance with good Forest School practice? Are the sessions conducted so that the children’s self-confidence, communication skills, use of tools (among other skills), is progressing week on week? Do they have the appropriate qualifications, First Aid Certificate and risk assessment processes in place? Are the woodland sites well managed? The FSA Recognised Forest School Provider Scheme offers that reassurance!
