Play at Forest School – The Importance of Play in Nature

Play at Forest School is valued as the ‘highest expression of human development’, yet we live in a consumeristic society that doesn’t always value it. In this video we explore a definition of play, consider the importance of play in nature and look at how we can support play at Forest School.

If you are currently doing your Forest School training or already a Forest School Leader looking to brush up on your Forest School skills I hope this video helps you develop your Forest School activities and practice.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
01:40 – Play is Essential
03:03 – Play is a child’s human right
03:30 – Play is an evolutionary necessity
05:44 – What is ‘play’? A definition.
07:45 – What does play look like?
12:39 – Are we in a society of play deprivation?
17:33 – How do we support play at Forest School?
27:23 – Age and play – working with different age groups
28:50 – Reflecting on your own play
29:41 – Poem

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT?
= ) #3. Play Comes First - Little Lessons from Lily-Roe - Baby Wisdom for Forest School -    • #3. Play Comes First – Little Lessons from...  
= ) The Importance of Risky Play - a Forest School interview -    • The Importance of Risky Play - a Forest Sc...  
= ) Forest School Benefits - The ripple effects of Forest School programmes -    • Forest School Benefits – The ripple effect...  
= ) Short Term Session Planning for Forest School –    • Short Term Session Planning at Forest Scho...  
= ) Long Term Programme Planning for Forest School -    • Long Term Programme Planning for Forest Sc...  
= ) Outdoor Learning & Forest School - What's the Difference? -    • Outdoor Learning and Forest School - What'...  
= ) Risk at Forest School - Supporting Appropriate Risk Taking -    • Risk at Forest School – Supporting Appropr...  
= ) Planning your first Forest School Programme -    • Planning your first Forest School programm...  
= ) 5 Session Starters for Forest School - Supporting outdoor play and child led learning -    • 5 Session Starters for Forest School - Sup...  
= ) Teenager Forest School – 7 Tips for Forest School with Secondary Aged Learners -    • Teenager Forest School – 7 Tips for Forest...  

Come to the woods with me, Forest School Lou,
I’ll share Forest School knowledge with you.
Since 2007, I’ve trained people face to face.
Now from 2020, I’m sharing through videos in this place.
If you like my content, do consider subscribing,
To my channel, which I am describing -    / forestschoollou  

LINKS:
www.forestschoolassociation.org – The Forest School Association, the UK charity for Forest School.
Bob Hughes is a lifelong advocate for play and written many books – www.rphughes44.blogspot.com/p/publications.html
Tim Gill is a writer and advisor on play and risk – www.rethinkingchildhood.com/
‘Nonviolent Communication – A Language of Life’ by Marshall Rosenberg ISBN-10 : 189200528X
‘Punished by Rewards: The trouble with gold stars, incentive plans, A’s, praise and other bribes by Alfie Kohn ISBN-10 : 9780618001811
www.playengland.org.uk - Play England
www.playwales.org.uk/eng/ - Play Wales
www.playscotland.org - Play Scotland

IMAGE CREDITS FROM PIXABAY:
Albert-Einstein by Janeb13
Atoms by PIRO4D
Blackboard teacher by Tumisu
Business by Goumbik
Child in forest by Tancox
Child-explore by April Bryant
Den building by Rick Siderfin
Dog and humans playing by FreeCreativeStuff
Game by Josephredfield
Game Over by seb-agora
Girl and Maple Leaf by StockSnap
Hacking by Seb-agora
Keyboard Cover by Free-Footage
Mountain Bike by Maurice Muller
Nintendo by DigestContest
Silhouette Thinking Idea by athree23
Smartphone Cover by Free-Footage
Speed of light by Dieter_G
Tree climbing by Esther Merbt
Wooden Car by GLady
Many thanks for use of your photos and videos!

Big Thank you to James BigDaddy for his groovy editing skills!

DISCLAIMER:
All information shared within the Forest School Lou channel is provided in good faith, and based on my own experience of Forest School in the UK. It is not designed to be a replacement for quality, face to face, accredited Forest School training, rather as a resource to support Forest practitioners and those in training. I am a Forest School trainer, but not your Forest School trainer, therefore no training contract exists between us. Ensure you are appropriately qualified and undertake your own risk assessments before undertaking any activity with groups, which takes into account the learners age, ability and level of understanding.

Forest School Lou is a trade name for Birchwood Learning Ltd.