Learning contexts - Forest schools

Forest school

Challenging play is when children take risks whilst playing; this could be something like climbing a tree. 

‘Play is integral to children’s health and development and through play they can develop their abilities, learn about the world around them and explore their creativity.  Play space that is stimulating and exciting allows children to learn about risk, helping them to build confidence, learn skills and develop resilience.’- (Products)

By challenging play a child will learn and develop new skills through trial and error.   Trial and error is when a child makes a mistake and then learns from that mistake, so for instance if a child is climbing a tree and take a wrong step and can’t go higher the next timed they climb the tree they will know not to go that way and will try a different route.  By a child taking part in challenging play it allows them go gradually build confidence and self esteem. Through challenging play a child may set their own goals for instance today he may only get half way up the tree that they are climbing by the end of the week he wants to reach the top this is allowing them to put faith in their capabilities.  This is supported by (tassoni, 2002)

Forest schools is an initiative that supports challenging play it allows the child to face all challenging aspects, no matter what their ability there will be something for them at forest schools

A Forest school gives both practitioners and children a chance to develop new skills. And comes with the choice for parents or a wider community to come with you so they can experience the children’s learning for themselves this I believe is a good idea as it then allows the parent to see that challenging play is good for the child and allows them to develop to their best potential as some parents may feel that challenging play is too dangerous in some cases, for instance a parent at my placement refused to let her child go on a climbing frame as she believed it was to high even though the apparatus was set and stated that it was for that age group.

“Participants have been shown to benefit in many ways including self confidence & self-esteem, team work, motivation, skills and knowledge, and pride in, and understanding of, their surrounding environment” (O'Brian, 2003)

Forest school has many benefits one of which being the teachers can now observe the children in a different atmosphere; it allows the child to have the opportunity to become healthier as it shows them how fun challenging play really is.

By a child taking part in challenging play it allows them go gradually build confidence and self esteem. Through challenging play a child may set their own goals for instance today he may only get half way up the tree that they are climbing by the end of the week he wants to reach the top this is allowing them to put faith in their capabilities. This is supported by (tassoni, 2002)