In the kindergarten Velenje, students spend a lot of time in nature. There are lots of opportunities out in the forest, which enable children to train many new skills, develop physical abilities and practice nature observation. Children have created forest playrooms, gymnasiums, camps, homes and houses. Small ones for dwarfs and fairies, some bigger ones for us and big ones, just in case the little mole Ligi joins!

With some clear rules set up, playing zones have been designed. The forest playing rooms offered endless possibilities for imaginary games. And there's no place like imagination, where dwarfs, fairies, unicorns and other creatures can join children while they play. In the forest, children were able to pick up different materials and forest products each time. From these materials, real forest pictures and sculptures were made. In each visit to the forest, children were encouraged to use all their senses; observe the tall trees, listen to the birds singing, the rustling of leaves, touching the tree bark, hugging trees as well as all their friends! A sensory path was created with some of the forest products children collected, sometimes, children even walked through the forest barefoot.

“We are too rarely aware that the forest is a teacher that can teach children more if we enter it open-minded, experience it in silence, by observing, listening, touching, or if we just let ourselves to SIMPLY BE in the forest. Only in such a way, will children experience the peace, joy and love that they deserve. They will enter it unobtrusively, respectfully, which for sure also is what the forest deserves.” I still remember When we went to the forest playroom, one of the students said very loudly: “ I love the forest!

Maruša Kozman and preschool teachers of kindergarten Velenje

Children also got to visit a carpenter to create wood pieces for the forest playrooms. The carpenter presented them with his work and showed them how to make a wooden crate. After having met the carpenter, children even gave up themselves to some carpenting. The children highly enjoyed grinding, constructing, glueing and sawing the wood. Hardly anyone cared about the hurt fingers while hammering nails and the pain, they were so proud of themselves and their success!

The forest was also used as a math classroom. The children compared sticks, cones, different forest fruits, they observed trees, got to know forms, sorting, counting, stringing, comparing. They had real fun! In the forest gymnasium, forest ranges were created and physical activities were carried out. The forest is not always silent, there are different sounds coming from it. In the forest, sometimes students find materials which serve them to perform all kinds of music such as playing the drums!

The children got the idea that our forest is protected by a very special creature. Together with the children, we believe as well, so that it will remain a clean and magical place also in the future. We will return to nature in future to continue to explore, get to know new things, discover and ensure that the forest remains our priceless experience, shelter and a warm home.