The Forest Homeschool

Kids Gardening Idea 🌱

Gardening with children is always a great idea; it supports fine motor and cognitive skills, and it also provides sensory play! ✨
As springtime unfolds and the weather grows warmer, plant some seeds with your child and allow them to feel the earth between their fingers. Watch your seeds grow as they go from seed to sprout to plant.
Read books to support the journey! Eric Carle’s “The Tiny Seed” is always a favorite in our home. Allow your child to witness the miracle of life. 🌿
•
•

Yes. 🌱

They're depending on us. ❤️

🌱

We can all sow seeds, and even more, we can create social, mental and emotional environments where the act of sowing seeds is normalised 🌱

This involves the development of - , which Bandura defined as “people's beliefs about their capabilities to produce designated levels of performance that exercise influence over events that affect their lives.” Your child’s belief in their own ability to do something, find resources, gain knowledge and problem-solve is key to understanding their own self-efficacy.

There are many strategies we can use to support our children’s sense of efficacy. Adult encourages self-efficacy by helping children connect what they are doing with how the world is reacting to their behaviour. self-efficacy ourselves is also impactful, because children observe how we approach tasks. And a third strategy to use involves ways of tasks for children that are age/stage appropriate so that children have an opportunity to pursue success.

Try these specific strategies:

🌱 Giving children choices and encourage new explorations.
🌱 Giving children responsibility, an opportunity for success.
🌱 Giving children an enriched environment at home, childcare and in school.
🌱 Giving children time to repeat experiences and hone skills.
🌱 Encourage mastery, competence and high quality outcomes, even if the outcome is sub-optimal. You and your child can view this as a high quality outcome because you learned something new about the process. Seeing the result as a positive outcome and a learning experience, and talking about the processes and trying again is an example of self-efficacious behaviour.

✨ If you would like to be kept in the loop on everything Neurochild please submit your details here http://bit.ly/neurochild-connect

This is what 2nd Grade looks like for us. 🌟 Climbing trees, exploring nature and all the time in the world to be outdoors.

•
•

At the corner of freedom and fear is homeschooling. 🌈
Freedom because we suddenly become free to follow our hearts; free to live wildly and immerse ourselves in what truly matters.
Fear because many of us are forced to go against what society has pre-conditioned us all to think, or how to feel.
Are we doing enough? Is she playing too much? Should he be learning other things? Should they be doing more?
My friends, I’m here to remind you that you are doing an amazing job. I’m here to remind you that there are no “right” or “wrong” ways to learn. It’s impossible for so many unique individuals to fit only one mold, and they should not ever have to.
Here’s to changing “normal”. 🌱
•
•

Create “Nature Owls”! A simple, outdoor-filled nature craft for kiddos of all ages.
🦉🌲❄️

https://naturallykatey.wordpress.com/2022/01/12/nature-owls/

Nature Owls Enjoy a simple owl nature craft with the kiddos in your life! One of our favorite things to do with my 6 and almost 8-year-old are arts and crafts with nature (like our Evergreen Art!). Not only do…

*This* is an example of the magic of raising outdoor kids.
The children created this all themselves, including using teamwork to carry our (retired) Christmas Tree and their play table into their nature fort under our backyard tree & completely transformed the space into a “house”. They created a towel rack out of fallen branches, added berries to a wreath for "home decor", made "garland" out of monkey grass and berries, and made "dusting brushes" out of fallen pitch pine, to name a few.

The benefits of nature play for children can be clearly seen here:

🌲 Innovation
❄️ Creativity
🌍 Imagination
🌱 Teamwork
☀️ Dexterity
🦋 Collaboration
🐝 Exposure to Natural Science
💧Problem Solving
💓 Sensory Integration
🌻 Fresh Air for Healthy Lungs
🌧 The ability to create something out of nothing!

And so much more. 💓

❄️❄️❄️

Check out this fun activity to do once the temperature drops below freezing 🥶❄️⛄️

Seasons Greetings 🌟

Looking for a nature-inspired holiday craft?! Check out this sweet & simple idea from ! Would make an awesome gift idea for family, or maybe even gift tags if you make it small enough. Little-hands “approved”. 🌲❤️

Solstice Nature Ornaments ❄️🌲🌟

Begin with a clear plastic (or glass) ornament ball. Venture into the woodlands for a sensory-rich nature walk; encourage the children in your care to collect their most favorite forest treasures. ❄️
As you walk, add the treasures into the ornament ball. When you’re finished, close the top & perhaps label the bottom with the year. Hang around your home or on your tree for years to come. Happy Winter Solstice! ❄️🌀❄️
•
•
❄️

Did you know? 🌧💨☀️

Remember...👇❤

🌟❄️🌲

A great reminder for the holiday season ❤

Lots of unstructured imaginative play today in our Waldorf-inspired Forest Kindergarten! ❤️🌲
Free play, especially outdoors, is so extremely beneficial for children of all ages.
•
•

Enjoyed a crisp morning filled with woodland free play, leaf rubbings & “Stellaluna” at our Forest School Co-Op! 🌲🍁🦇📖
•
•

❄️❤️🌲

❤💚❤

Risk taking; one of the most important parts of unstructured free play within early childhood. Risky play provides immense benefits to our children, including resilience, the ability to assess potentially dangerous situations, and how to maneuver one if needed. Important lessons to carry throughout life! 🌲
•
•

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for of North Raleigh’s December Forest Playgroup! 🍂❄️
•
•

Had our very first forest homeschool co-op this morning! 🍂🌲 We enjoyed sooo much unstructured free play, with a story & craft (nature wands) sprinkled in. Watching my kindergartner run free with her friends completely filled my heart!
•
•

We decided to make an autumn feast for the squirrels this morning! 🍂 We discovered that they especially love acorns (which we already knew), carrots and apples. Gabriella insisted we scatter all of the above in the backyard in order to help them store up their food supply for their impending hibernation. Now off to lunch & storytime. ❤️

“There’s no WiFi in the woods, but you’ll find a better connection.” ❤️
•
•

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! 🦃❤️🍂
Sharing one of our favorite holiday books, and hoping that one day we can replicate.
•
•

This morning’s Tuesday “Caregiver & Me” of North Raleigh class took place in our gorgeous golden woodlands as we explored, sang together and discussed our changing world around us. We shared what we each are thankful for, and lastly made our *rock turkeys*!
🦃 🍂❤️
•
•

❄️🌲❄️

Our first annual of North Raleigh *Lantern Walk* was a success!
We had a quiet & relaxing walk through the woodlands after some playground free play, followed by warm apple cider, cookies and a beautiful seasonal story. Thank you to all who came out this evening and made gorgeous memories with us! 🌟🍂❤️
•
•

Baby pine cones, golden leaves, crisp air & unstructured free play; what’s better?! 🍂
I’m so glad I followed my heart and took my kindergartner out of school; she’s been so incredibly happy. It’s filling my cup so much to see her once again wild & free. ❤️
•
•

Forest Kindergarten Days! 🍂❄️

We took a long nature walk today through the woods and found a woodpecker, a deer, lichen and a fuzzy spider! We balanced on fallen trees, made a lean-to and ate lunch under the falling golden leaves. ❤️

Creating our Forest Kindergarten Space this afternoon! We found a magical place under our Magnolia tree for quiet time. 🌲
•
•

In Forest School, my children ran free. The fresh air and the evergreen trees bent to great them each morning, and they thought that all classrooms had no walls.
In Forest School, my children found confidence in themselves. My once shy and reserved older child found her wings and exercised her innate leadership skills daily. My once clumsy younger child learned to balance not only her physical self, but her spiritual self as well.
In Forest School, my children connected and socialized. As their mother, I found my “village of support”; without it, I don’t know where I’d be.
In Forest School, my children developed lasting friendships… and so did I.
•
•

🌙 ✨ 🌞

Bundle those kiddos up and stay outside!
❄️❤️❄️
https://tinkergarten.com/blog/why-being-outdoors-is-essential-for-wellness-even-in-winter?fbclid=IwAR0qSeOzESduuQ7DD-csD02bb0zj5kZI98VXCOMXUwGrOk4BDVkmmgLZudA

Why Being Outdoors In Winter Is So Very Good For Kids | Tinkergarten Too cold outside? No way! Why outdoor play is possible no matter the weather.

It’s official, my friends!
Within the next month, I’m pulling my kindergartner out of her public school & we’re returning to the forest. 🌲
It’s been four months worth of questioning myself, denying my gut feelings, and doubting myself… but this child belongs outside. 🌞 As soon as my husband & I made the decision, it was like a weight was lifted off my chest.
How I’ll manage this with a newborn come April? I have no idea. 😂 All I know is that this is the right decision; she needs this.
Any other forest homeschoolers in the Raleigh area?!

Anyone gearing up for upcoming lantern walks?! 🍂
Fall is absolutely our favorite time of year.

Flashbacks to two years ago. 🍂
The leaves were turning from green and yellow to orange and red and golden, and the crunching of these fallen treasures could be heard as you stepped over our woodland floor. The children were having so much fun playing with one another in the woods after our daily forest school that I had decided to plan a forest school Halloween gathering!
When the day came, the weather was perfect as the golden sun shone through the many branches that hung above us. The children were encouraged to wear their costumes and were free to play, to create art, and simply to just be. ✨ It was a pot luck, so all of the families from our forest school kindly made their favorite autumn or Halloween-inspired recipes and brought it to our gathering. I remember working hard with a few of the other parents just before our children came out of forest school, quickly and diligently hanging our autumn banners and decorations from the trees, and moving wooden picnic tables and setting up our food as families showed up.
The feeling of friendship and unity through our circle of support was so warm and amazing, and our surroundings were just simply whimsical that day. It brings back a strong feeling of nostalgia as I think back to our beautiful circle of support! I miss our forest school so dearly. In the same token, I am so thankful for what my family and I have gained from it. Here’s to when we open our forest preschool & kindergarten through of North Raleigh!🌲🍁✨
•
•
•

Our Tuesday morning “Caregiver & Me” class had a frightfully fun time in our woodlands today! 🦇
We began by creating our “magic potion”; our families collected so many wonderful nature treasures to add! 🍄 ✨
Then we discovered what’s inside of a pumpkin! And last, but not least, we painted our miniature pumpkins. Happy Halloween Week to all!
👻🦇🎃
•
•

Kids Gardening Idea 🌱

Gardening with children is always a great idea; it supports fine motor and cognitive skills, and it also provides sensory play!
Plant some seeds with your child and allow them to feel the earth between their fingers. Watch your seeds grow as they go from seed to sprout to plant.
Read books to support the journey! Eric Carle’s “The Tiny Seed” is always a favorite in our home. Allow your child to witness the miracle of life. 🌿
•
•

Story Stone Activity! 🌿

•Story Stone Activity•
This story sequencing mat is perfect for little storytellers! Children can switch the stones on and off the mat and create endless stories✨ These are also perfect to help tell your outdoor adventures!🍂
•••
See all the details here: https://littlepinelearners.com/four-ways-to-use-stones-in-the-classroom/

Lol, what a neat idea! ☀️ 🌧 💨

☔️ 🌞 ⛅️ ❄️ 💨 Some examples of instructions commonly provided for "reading" a weather rock found on the internet are funny 😁.

If the rock is wet, it's raining.
If the rock is swinging, the wind is blowing.
If the rock casts a shadow, the sun is shining.
If the rock does not cast a shadow and is not wet, the sky is cloudy.
If the rock is difficult to see, it is foggy.
If the rock is white, it is snowing.
If the rock is coated with ice, there is a frost.
If the ice is thick, it's a heavy frost.
If the rock is bouncing, there is an earthquake.
If the rock is under water, there is a flood.
If the rock is warm, it is sunny.
If the rock is missing, there was a tornado.
If the rock is wet and swinging violently, there is a hurricane.
If the rock can be felt but not seen, it is night time.
If the rock has white splats on it, watch out for birds.
If there are two rocks, stop drinking, you are drunk.

The weather rock or weather stone is a humor display that pokes fun at the intricate technology used in modern weather forecasts, as well as the fact that their accuracy is less than perfect. A rock is typically hung from a tripod and accompanied by a sign indicating how to read it. 🪨 ☔️ 🌞 ⛅️ ❄️ 💨

Weather rocks will also sometimes include rules for proper maintenance of the system such as, "Please do not disturb the weather rock, it is a finely tuned instrument 😃.

Nature Paintbrushes! 🎨🌿🌈

Set out on a nature walk to find your most favorite nature treasures; ones that will help you to make a paintbrush! Amongst your treasures, you’ll need to find a sturdy stick, and have a piece of yarn on-hand (or a nature alternative). 🌎
Find a special place in the woods to settle down with a blanket or tarp, and take out your paints (red, yellow & blue are all you’ll need; mix them to explore other color creations!). Construct your paint brush, take out your paper & you’ll be good-to-go! Notice how different a pinecone print looks from a pine needle print, or a cypress branch versus a flower print. Paint a rainbow, or a tall tree, or whatever comes to mind! Nature painting is often extremely therapeutic, especially while listening to the sounds of the woodlands surrounding you. 🍃🌱🌿
•
•

Nature Walks 🍃

So beneficial for our bodies, minds & souls; nature walks bring a boosted mood and a sense of well-being to human beings of ALL ages (although I like to advocate to start them as early as possible!). Being outdoors brings us back to a strong sense of primal simplicity. Some of the benefits of nature walks? 🌱

🌲 Fosters gratitude
🍃 Improves mindfulness
🌸 Boosts the immune system
🌎Aides in brain functioning
🌜Reduces stress
🌳 Promotes sensory integration
🌻 Boosts creativity & imagination
🌾 Improves balance & coordination
🐢 Promotes empathy
🦋 Fights anxiety & depression

And so much more!

•
•

Get outside in all weather! ☀️ 🌧 🌬 ❄️
https://northraleigh.macaronikid.com/articles/610d438fac2427589ee36b8f/rainy-day-blues-get-outside-and-find-the-rainbow

Rainy Day Blues? Get Outside & Find the Rainbow! | Macaroni KID Downtown-Midtown-North Raleigh There are copious things I’ve learned upon my current parenting journey, but this one, in my opinion, is one of the most important: “There&r…