The Forest School journey is for the parents as much as it is for our children. In this article, let me break down the range of efforts that our parents make, while also showing the effect that is often seen and realised in our children.
The Forest School journey for our parents starts from the moment they prepare to sign up their little ones to the weekly session. They will usually read up and find out more about the Forest School practice by going through some of our library or reading materials.
Once they sign up for the session, they have to follow up with the coordination and administrative items through email and a parent WhatsApp group. These can be overwhelming for many who already have their hands full with work and family commitments.
After the administrative work is done, they then have to communicate with their little ones about them going to Forest School, which is an important factor in the transition for the child. Parents also have to communicate with other adult family members to make arrangements logistically so as to be able to commit to the 1+3+1:
1 hour prep/transport to site
3 hour forest school
1 hour transport/unprep to next place / home.
This will then be coupled with the logistical work of cleaning the gears (especially for the younger ones).
Parents will also try to be involved with listening to the sharings from coaches and children about the Forest School session that week, which itself is an important listening effort for the growth and development of the children, coaches and other parents of the FS community.
Sometimes parents will also chip in with their insight about some issues or topic of discussion.
Put that together with moments where Parents physically come into session to be Parent Volunteer (PVI link), to learn the FS Ways and support the community together.
What I have just written about is just a glimpse into SOME of the effort that Forest School parents put in to support and grow with the FS community… I believe there are much more beyond the above.
Now all these may seem like a mountain-ful for many, but our FS parents and community understand the result of our effort. The result is not one we see immediately, because the journey of FS is very much like planting a young seedling... the fruit comes later.
Children in Forest School Singapore weekly session have the space to be themselves and express themselves authentically. Through the effort that everyone puts into the sessions, we hold space for the development of independence, resilience, expression, adaptation, physical health, emotional growth and awareness of self & others.
Independence through enduring healthy discomfort to stretch their self-confidence.
Resilience through facing challenges at their own time, through self-empowerment.
Expression through the ability to say NO and share their boundaries while playing wildly with their peers.
Adaptation through learning to manage various transitional stages of a dynamic Forest School session, where friends, coaches, parents, visitors, places and Nature herself, changes time to time, with the help of community accountability.
Physical Health through the exposure to the elements of the weather while learning how to listen to their body, by eating (when hungry) and drinking (when thirsty). Instead of the conditional fixed timing of consumption.
Emotional Growth by being given the space to explore the whole range of human emotion, from happiness to sadness to anger and much more. Only when we experience do we find connection with our emotions, and therefore grow from that experience.
Awareness of self & others, by being part of a community that has a wide range of individuals with different styles, temperaments and belief systems. Our children gain a wider perspective through the open exposure of a fully outdoor (in-public-eyes) experience.
All these aspects of growth are evident in little sparks and moments amongst our Forest School children as they grow into their own at FS.
It is even more evident when they get older. Just like the 20 year old tree that starts bearing fruits, the effect of FS community effort and Nature connection comes many many years later…
We would like to thank all our weekly forest school parents for having faith in the journey for our children and ourselves. It is not easy for many of you, I believe. Thank you so much. I hope this little article will be able to shine light for you on your effort. Give yourself credit and gratitude for yourself (Self-love ❤️). Hopefully this article can also revitalise your faith in the journey when times are down.
With that I end this article with our favourite line…
“It takes a village to raise a child”
“It takes a village to support a parent”
☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
Written by: Uncle Darren
Edited by: Chong Shin Ee
Library 