World of wonder: Woodland walks

BABY AND TODDLER GROUPS

World of wonder: woodland walks

Alliance early years development manager Alison Heseltine shares ideas for woodland walks that include storytelling, sensory talk, and getting to know your local area.

Alison works as an early years development manager at the Alliance, supporting families and educators.

A bit of fresh air can do the world of good, especially in the post-holiday January lull when we could all do with blowing away some cobwebs. Wherever you are, there will be opportunities to venture out into the community to wander in woodlands with your baby and toddler group.

This could be a special, one-off session designed to stimulate curiosity and bring adults’ attention to hidden walks they may be unaware of, or it could be a series of walks in different spots to help build confidence, skills and learning each week.

During Bradford Baby Week, the Alliance team were delighted to go exploring on some exciting woodland walks as part of our work supporting community-based groups, as well as delivering our own play-and-learn sessions in the Bradford area.

Alongside encouraging physical activity in different terrains and promoting the wellbeing benefits of being outdoors, the aim of the walks was to bring families together and provide an opportunity for them to explore the outdoor spaces in their own communities, while still having the support of the group leaders.

Telling a story

The walks were all led by the team. They guided families through the trees, taking time to talk about what could be seen, heard, touched and smelled, exploring the natural resources – leaves, pinecones, seeds, cobwebs – and, thanks to the arrival of Storm Debi, lots of sticks and puddles, too!

Each one journeyed through a story, with plenty of opportunities to stop along the way to connect with nature and the various sensory experiences that only the great outdoors can provide.

With three outdoor stories chosen by the children and families, waterproof book copies were created, equipped with a selection of props and puppets. At one of the parks, we even had a bridge to trip-trap over, careful not to disturb the troll who lived underneath! On our bear hunt, we found lots of squelchy mud, while on our Gruffalo walk, we searched for trees that the Gruffalo might have been hiding behind.

The Gruffalo, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and The Three Billy Goats Gruff

“It was cold, but we still had a lovely time!”

“Lovely park that I didn’t know existed.”

The families shared their enjoyment of the sessions, and the staff team got a peek of the different ways the adults engaged with their children.

Reaping the benefits

Everyone, including staff, had fun. Spending time in the fresh air left everyone feeling happier, invigorated and more relaxed, regardless of the weather. The children transformed into enthusiastic adventurers and explorers, searching for wildlife while learning new vocabulary and building their knowledge of the world around them.

“So nice to spend some time in the park."

Watching the squirrels scampering along branches and through the leaves was a particular source of joy!

One of the most rewarding aspects of the walks is that they attracted new families to the groups, serving as a great, less socially pressured way of introducing everyone – it’s been wonderful to see that these families are now regularly attending the group sessions.

Planning your own woodland adventure

If you’d like to take your group out and about, we’ve gathered some top tips to help plan your adventure:

“We’re going to try and get out more even when the weather isn’t great. There’s lots of interesting things to see and talk about on an outdoor walk. It’s great for the body and mind.”

Try to find a venue that is within easy reach of your current meeting place – that way you can be more certain that your families will be able to stick to their usual travel plans.
Contact your local park service and check if you need to register your session with them and be aware of any requirements/ restrictions they may have.
Visit the venue beforehand and put together a risk assessment that considers key areas, for example: litter, animal faeces, large bodies of water, entrances and exits, other park users, plant hazards, cars and road traffic and the weather. Check with your insurance provider that you are covered for the change of locations and remember on the day to get there early enough to do a final check prior to the start of the session.
Plan your sessions out – but be prepared to change those plans as nature has a way of surprising us and you never know what might capture everyone’s imagination on the day. Share your plans with your families and children so that they too can prepare especially when it comes to remembering to dress appropriately for the weather.
Make sure you have items such as a mobile phone and first aid kit to hand, and it is good practice to have a qualified first aider at the session. You may also need some extra helpers.
Promote your outdoor sessions at the group itself and in the local community. If you have some information about your group such as a flyer, take some copies with you on the day so that you can share these with any new families that might come along.
Ensure that parents/carers understand that they are, at all times, responsible for their children.

“It’s easy to hide away indoors in bad weather, but it was great fun – even in the rain!”

The Alliance Baby and Toddler Toolkit helps group leaders reflect on the service they offer to families, including ways to extend an inclusive and welcoming environment for all alongside building connections to other community resources.

If you would like to know more, please visit: https://bit.ly/U5ND_BTtoolkit.

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