Roots, Rocks and Resilience: Forest play for toddlers

The first five years of a child's life are critical because the brain develops faster during this period than at any other time in life. Choosing a nature daycare like Little Bears during these formative years maximizes this developmental window by using the natural forest environment to stimulate growth.

One of the most important points of learning is through gross motor skills. Children master running and balancing on the forest's uneven ground while improving their balance, agility, and core strength.
 
We note that the play surface in our infant/Toddler play space is challenging! Over the past 15 years, the ground has slowly eroded, slipping away with the rain and the wind.
Over time, the once gradual slope of the hill has become much more challenging for little legs. We have added a wooden plank with a rope railing to help ease this transition up the hill. What is remarkable is how quickly the children learn, adapt, and navigate this tricky terrain.

As educators, we are always in awe at this developmental stage in a child's learning. We forget just how capable these little growing humans are!
If we were to compare the developmental stage of a toddler to the exercise of a full-grown adult, you may be surprised to learn that ALL of our early developmental masteries happened in the beginning stages of our lives.

While toddlers are stepping over tree roots, they are working on hand-eye coordination and ankle flexibility. While they are crawling up that inclined hill, they are engaging their core, activating their glutes, and building calf muscle endurance.
Walking through tall grasses or "trippy" salal bush forces higher knee lifts while also strengthening their hip flexors.

Standing on wide tree trunks encourages balance, strength, and coordination, while engaging almost every muscle in a child's body and also instilling wild confidence!
While walking down slopes, teach children eccentric muscle control and teach toddlers how to break! (Urrrccchhh!!!)

Jumping off low, safe surfaces onto soft earth builds bone density and landing absorption. Carrying large sticks or heavy stones shifts a child's centre of gravity while challenging their balance. 

The forest is the ultimate arena for gross motor mastery because nature cannot be memorized. Unlike flat, predictable indoor floors, the forest floor constantly changes, forcing a child's brain and muscles to adapt to every single step!

In short, the forest replaces rigid playground equipment with a living, dynamic landscape that builds resilient, agile, and physically confident young children.
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As always, thank you for reading. 
With gratitude,
​Lexie