We recently had the pleasure of visiting Saplings, an early years natural play session run by Kirklees Council at Cliffe House, set within eleven acres of beautiful woodlands in the heart of Yorkshire.
Under the supervision of parents, teachers and experienced outdoor leaders, children are exposed to the great outdoors all year round, as well as nature inspired crafts, positive risk taking, bushcraft and more in weekly sessions that are likened to a Forest School experience.
Here's what we got up to when we visited….
Creativity and crafting
We supplied Saplings with everything they needed to create Leaf Paint Prints as part of their nature inspired crafts part of the session.
First, the children ventured into the woods to forage for leaves of all varieties. The children were curious, asking about different types of leaves and the trees they originate from – even learning the difference between evergreen and deciduous trees and plants. Others were mesmerised by the different shapes, colours, and textures of the leaves.
We were then welcomed back to the Saplings indoor classroom. The children were given paint brushes and asked to create their own backdrop for their prints – choosing their favourite colours and using an array of brushstrokes to fill a canvas before pressing and stamping their leaves over the top. The children were incredibly engaged throughout and were excited to see the outcome of their work.
At the end of the session, the children returned to the classroom and peeled back the leaves from their canvases to reveal unique designs, which they were all delighted to take home.
What you’ll need
• 713120 - YPO Ready Mixed Paint- Assorted Colours • 317616 - Unbleached Medium Weight Fabric • 759082 - Junior Chubby Brushes
6 For more ideas and inspiration visit
ypo.co.uk/littlelearners
YPO visits Saplings for the day
'There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.' - Alfred Wainwright
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