Counterbalancing Digital Dominance
In a world where screens dominate both the education and leisure time of our young people, the importance of nature-based learning has never been more relevant. Forest School, with its child-led, outdoor approach, provides a powerful counterbalance to the digital overload experienced by today’s primary-aged children. While we support the use of technology, we believe that the imbalance is in urgent need of addressing.
The Rise of Screen Time
Children now spend an average of 4-6 hours a day on screens, often indoors. Screen fatigue sets in with long sessions without breaks manifesting lots of physical and mental strains. Unchecked, this lifestyle shift has lead to decreased physical activity, rising levels of anxiety, and a growing disconnect from the natural world. Further negative impacts include children having an increasingly harder time recognising emotions in others, not focusing in class, having trouble concentrating on tasks and even less success regulating their emotions and behaviour.
Reconnecting with Nature
Forest School places children in natural environments where they learn through exploration, play, and hands-on activities. This approach not only combats screen fatigue but also nurtures curiosity, creativity, and emotional regulation. While everyone would love access to a large green space, this is not always possible. Adapting and making most of the space that you have, however little, can have a positive impact over time.
Not only is it important for young people (and older) to get outside, it’s even better if we can stay outside for extended periods of time. Think of it as a multiplier of effectiveness. The more often we can get out and stay out for longer, the more it will benefit us. With the strains and stresses of our modern world on our case from dawn to dusk, we have never had more reason to unplug and soak ourselves in the natural world.
Whole-Child Development
Nature-based learning and play, such as Forest School sessions, addresses the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development of children. It encourages movement, fosters resilience, and supports mental health through time in green spaces. The very heart of Forest School is taking a holistic approach to our learners, meeting them where they are. From here it’s a journey of discovery, taking supported risks and helping to mould them into well-adjusted free thinking young people.
More Than A Luxury
Forest School should not be viewed as a luxury or an add on, if we have time. In today’s digital age, it’s a necessity. Forest School should be be allowed to take root across the UK’s education system. Facilitated by well trained practitioners and given time to grow, Forest School helps children thrive in a fast-paced world by grounding them in the slower, steadier rhythms of nature. Forest School also helps learners mange and navigate risk as they bob in a sea of cotton wool. Finally, Forest School should help develop learners as people. Capable of independent, free thinking thought, they make sound decisions and have a positive impact on the world they inhabit. This is why nature-based learning is effective and helpful in helping to redress the imbalance in our digital world.
See you among the trees soon!
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Disclaimer. This post was made utilising AI technology for some of the content within the post. We use AI to help speed up our workflow and generate topical and useful imagery where images are not available from our own image library.