Mama Beech

The two unavoidable topics at the moment are how much 'education' children have missed, and the effect lockdown & C19 have had on their mental health. Schools are less than an fortnight away from welcoming back all pupils while Outdoor Activities/Clubs will be able to commence soon after. Hopefully this means Schools who have had Forest School on hold can re-start sessions, and that Outdoor Learning Provision can open their doors to children who may have spent most of 2021 so far sat in front of a screen.  T he need  to allow for a 'carefree' summer of play was addressed in  The Guardian  : “As part of a wider recovery process, children should be encouraged and supported to spend time outdoors, playing with other children and being physically active" 'Catching up' with 'lost learning' is very important, but there has to be a balance or mental health will be further affected. Children's health physically and psychologically underpins learning...

Wellbeing is a difficult thing to gauge. O btaining a sense of wellbeing  requires different things for different children, and requires different things from each of us who work with them to help them achieve it. Since the coronavirus disrupted life as we knew it, the need to maintain a balance of comfort, health and happiness has become more and more important in day-to-day life. Of course wellbeing isn't just being OK in the minute, although it can often be a good time start, as a relief from whatever is causing stress today .   Many adults are struggling to cope with Lockdown Restrictions, most of us are used to a very different existence, children are finding it difficult too, especially if the adults around them are not coping well. Research suggests the pandemic may affect children and vulnerable groups more than the general population (ie: Holmes et al 2020 ), so a Forest School active and experiential approach to learning is very important. There is a lot to feel worr...