Winter Adventures & Connecting with Nature Tips

LK Toohey, MS, CCLS, Forest Guide • Mar 11, 2022

Nature provides endless opportunities for learning, exploring, and free play. As children move throughout the forest, they begin to increase their awareness and tune in all of their senses to the environment.

Spending significant time in nature has been linked to better overall physical and mental health, in addition to children having better academic performance. In all of our River’s Edge programs, children are moving their bodies and testing limits as they play. The natural materials provided allow for creativity and expression, in addition to the development of physical strengths.

Throughout the winter, we have been taking many hikes and ventures to see what we could find in the forest and what changes may have occurred in the colder weather. There is rarely a dull moment as children begin to notice frozen water along the creek, frost covering the ground, many nut shells surrounding the trees, and more. As children become more experienced in the forest, we observe them beginning to notice natural elements on their own and showing them to us as guides, rather than us being always the first to point a discovery out.

Our children assign their own meaning to findings, and while we may tell them the factual name of a natural element, we see enriching imaginative play where logs become trains, rocks become meatballs, and sticks are magic wands. This pretend play encouraged by nature allows for children to use creativity, all of their senses, and become more physically active and social! I can’t tell you how many mud recipes are created on a daily basis, and how much hard teamwork goes into each one. I can tell you that the developmental benefits are endless!

Trekking through the forest and off the paths requires focus! There are many roots and logs to step over and climb. Children are encouraged to keep trying when they might trip or struggle, promoting resilience. We see even our youngest children hiking up a big hill and confidently reaching the top with a big smile, stating, “I did it!” This takes time, weeks of adventures, stumbles over the ground, and practice overcoming challenges.

While much of our days are full of movement and full-bodied play, there are plenty of places to rest and relax in the forest setting. Children are surrounded by trees and plants, which leads to less stress. Studies show that outdoor classrooms have improved daily cortisol levels of students, showing the impact of natural environments even for young children. When children are constantly scheduled and rushed from one activity to the next, they are not taught how to “reset” or slow down. This can create a very “stressed-out” child, who needs time for restorative play in an outdoor setting.

The natural elements of the forest provide a calm, safe environment, with natural lighting and sounds that our bodies and brains are wired to be receptive to! When children need a rest, you might see them sitting against a tree, lounging in a hammock, or swinging lightly. Nature gives children time to think, process emotions, regulate, and relax in our busy world!

I love this article by Katie Hurley, LCSW. She highlights many methods to get your children outside, and the many ways nature is stress-relieving! Taking walks doesn’t and shouldn’t always be quick, let your children stop, discover and explore. Curious minds need plenty of opportunities to adventure, and it doesn’t need to be complicated!

Ideas/tips for facilitating your child’s connection with nature:

Nature scavenger hunts- you can find so many scavenger hunt printables online for every season, or you can make your own! Some children love having a “mission.” Encourage your child to use all of their senses when exploring, i.e. what does the flower feel or smell like?
Collecting and creating- children often love collecting nuts, seeds, gumballs, or even rocks. Can they create a design (on the ground or table) with their findings?
Color walks- searching for fun colors can be a wonderful way to connect your child with the natural world, especially in the spring when plants are in full bloom! Take paint chips or a color wheel out with you on your walk, see what colors can match up to the paint chips or wheels. What colors are difficult to find?
Take a closer look- break out the magnifying glasses and see what details you can discover!
Books- Our kids have greatly enjoyed our bird watching books, and going on adventures to see what types of birds we will see. There are many books where children can place a sticker when they’ve discovered a new bird!

Letting your child take the lead on hikes and adventures can be challenging for many parents, but is essential for promoting your child’s independence and confidence!

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Winter in the Forest - January 2023

By LK, Director of FORESTplay & Certified Child Life Specialist • 22 Jan, 2023

Building fires together Winter weather also presents the opportunity to build fires together and practice fire safety techniques. We teach children fire safety rules such as three points of contact with the ground and not to run or play in the fire pit area. Many groups enjoy working as a team to collect sticks and help set up the logs for burning. Sometimes, we are able to cook over the fire together, making baked apples, soup, and more.

Enjoying Fall in the River's Edge Forest

By LK Baldwin, FORESTPlay Director • 18 Nov, 2022

Thank you for allowing us to work with your children. We are so appreciative for all of our supportive families in the River’s Edge community. Happy Thanksgiving!

Summertime, the River's Edge Way!

By LK Toohey, MS, CCLS, Forest Guide • 01 Jul, 2022

FORESTcamps: where childhood comes to life with imagination and wonder!

NATURE, the ultimate sensory experience for young children!

By LK Toohey, MS, CCLS, Forest Guide • 25 Feb, 2022

Proprioception tells us how much force or muscle strength to use for different activities. This sense helps us know how to complete tasks such as picking things up gently, knowing how to put something down without force, and being overall more aware of our bodies. Nature offers plenty of full bodied play that will stimulate the proprioceptive sense. When children build forts with palettes or planks, they are engaging in “heavy work.” Heavy work provides sensory input and can be therapeutic as children focus to pick up a heavy log and have to coordinate with their body. Other examples may include: pushing a swing, pulling the rope swing or a heavy wagon, or digging with a shovel.

Benefits of time in nature & a longer, slower childhood!

By LK Toohey, MS, CCLS, Forest Guide • 21 Feb, 2022

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlights the importance of a longer, slower childhood. Nature can greatly contribute to a longer, slower childhood and positively influence all areas of child development. What does this mean? Children need enriching and "varied" positive experiences for their brains to remain malleable for longer periods of time. Children learn there are many possibilities and often more than one answer to a question when they spend significant time in nature. The forest gives space for children to follow their curiosity and wonder. Nature is constantly changing, encouraging children to discover and play in novel ways. It’s all about the brain! T he architecture of the brain includes and ongoing process of neuron activity! The early years are the most active time period for neural connections to be formed. Connections are early in the brain build the foundation for later connections. In summary, the early childhood experiences will shape how well the brain functions through adulthood.

Rain Gear for Kids – West River, MD – River’s Edge Forest Play

Winter and Rain Gear for Kids

By websitebuilder • 07 Dec, 2021

Finding the right gear to keep your kids warm and dry shouldn't be so complicated! Here are the brands we have tested and recommend! Note: River's Edge is an Amazon Associate which means we earn from qualifying purchases when you use the amazon links below! Thanks for your support!