Last week Parker and I were lucky enough to try out a new, exciting forest school themed session that has come to Bucks.
Little Muddy Boots is an outdoor, nature themed session that is now running every Thursday and Friday morning in the Orchard outside Hogshaw Farm. Each week has a different theme and this weeks theme was autumn leaves.
When we arrived we were met by the lovely Sally who runs the sessions, Sally explained how the session would work and Parker could begin by playing with any of the resources available. Let me tell you he had an incredible time!
- He transformed into gardener Parker and did some raking
- He drew pictures on a chalk board
- He built things using mud and diggers and said he was a builder
- He cooked up a storm at the incrediblely stocked mud kitchen!
There were also structured activities led by Sally, we made a leaf wreath which is proudly hanging on our wall at home and stuck leaves to a tree picture to make our own tree.
We were also giving a paint colour pack and we had a great time trying to find leaves to match the colours in the pack!
As we were in the grounds of Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park we also heard lots of animal noises and Parker could see some sheep through the fence that he kept waving to.
There were biscuits and drinks for all and the session ended with a lovely story time sat on log seats. I’m told that sometimes the session ends with a camp fire here!
The Little Muddy Boots session is fully led by the children, despite the activities set up, Sally is very flexible and when the children were having a fantastic (and messy!) time at the mud kitchen we all made a joint decision to let them carry on rather than interrupt for an activity. It was so lovely for them to really choose what they wanted to do. It really was such a relaxed, fun and pleasant session.
The session is bookable in term time blocks (although if you speak to Sally there are alternatives available if this doesn’t work for you) and will run in all weathers so get your puddle suits and wellies at the ready! Parker got very muddy but there was a water butt and soap available so we were able to get clean before we got in the car.
Parker was asleep by the time we got 3 minutes up there road ! All that fun and fresh air did the trick.
Find all the Buckinghamshire toddler forest schools
