FAQ

What is a forest/nature preschool?

What is a nature school?A nature preschool is an early childhood educational program that immerses children in the natural world as a central part of their learning experience. It emphasizes outdoor, play-based learning where children explore forests, fields, and other natural settings. Through activities like observing wildlife, building with natural materials, and engaging in sensory-rich experiences, children develop critical thinking, creativity, and social skills. Nature preschools aim to foster a strong connection to the environment, promote physical activity, and support holistic development by nurturing curiosity and a sense of wonder in a dynamic, outdoor classroom.

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What is a forest school?

A forest school is an educational approach that takes place primarily outdoors, using natural environments to support and enhance children’s learning and development. Rooted in experiential, hands-on learning, forest schools encourage children to explore, take risks, and engage with nature through activities like building shelters, climbing, and nature-based crafts. This approach promotes resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence while fostering a deep connection to the natural world. Forest schools emphasize child-led learning, allowing children to develop independence, cooperation, and a sense of responsibility in a supportive, outdoor environment.

How much time will my child spend outdoors?
Children at WFC will be outside for approximately 75-100% of class time. On days with challenging weather, this time may be shortened; all other days we will find ourselves outside for the whole class.

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What indoor activities will be offered?

Children will participate in free play and group activities within the learning center. They will have numerous opportunities to create art, engage in imaginative play, develop fine and gross motor skills, take part in group circle time, and enjoy reading and quiet time.

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What clothing will my child require?
Your child will need proper outdoor clothing to ensure that their time outside is comfortable. This may include multiple under layers; a warm outer layer such as a wool sweater, fleece, or down jacket; rain gear (Oakie) is rented from WFC it is included in the registration fee; two pairs of boots, one rubber and one insulated; wool or fleece socks; a warm winter hat and a sun hat; a neck warmer; and mittens. A comprehensive list of suggested clothing will be provided in your parent handbook.

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How do we teach?

Our preschool program is rooted in play, nature, and exploration.
We believe young children learn best through hands-on experiences, curiosity, and movement—not academic pressure. There are no worksheets or formal lessons—just meaningful, playful learning that builds real-world understanding.

Reading

Literacy and Language Development
In our play-based preschool program, language and literacy skills are nurtured through meaningful, everyday interactions. We focus on building a love for language in natural, engaging ways:

• Daily read-alouds that expose children to rich vocabulary, storytelling, and the rhythm of language

• Intentional conversations using complex language, helping children understand that words carry meaning

• Modeling writing in front of children during everyday activities and play

• Story dictation, where we write down children’s words and thoughts, showing that their ideas are valued

• Encouraging book handling to develop early concepts of print and foster a love for books

• Using children’s names—their most familiar and meaningful word—to spark recognition and connection

• Playing word and name games to build phonemic awareness in fun, interactive ways

Children learn to listen, speak, and develop early reading and writing foundations—all while playing, exploring, and being heard.

Math

Math is introduced naturally through play and exploration. Children build early math skills as they:

• Count rocks, sticks, and other treasures from nature

• Sort and classify objects by size, shape, or color

• Build patterns using leaves, acorns, or pinecones

• Explore measurement using non-standard tools like boots or hands

• Compare quantities while sharing and building

• Engage in number-rich songs, finger plays, and games

Through these experiences, children develop a strong foundation in math while doing what they do best—playing, wondering, and discovering.

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Science

Science & Discovery
At Woodland Forest, every child is a natural scientist—curious, observant, and eager to understand the world around them. We foster this innate curiosity through hands-on exploration, guided discovery, and playful experimentation.

Our approach to science includes:

• Child-led investigations, where curiosity sparks questions and exploration leads to discovery

• Simple science experiments, where children make predictions, test ideas, observe results, and share findings with their peers

• Nature tools like magnifying glasses for close-up observation of bugs, leaves, and textures

• Bug hunts and animal tracking to study living things in their natural habitat

• Pollinating flowers with paintbrushes to understand plant life cycles

• Exploring mud puddles, testing surface tension with leaves and other objects

• Planting seeds, caring for them, and watching the growing process unfold

• Butterfly watching and nature walks to connect books and real-world experiences

• Show and tell, where children share natural treasures and discoveries

• Open-ended questions that spark deeper thinking, problem-solving, and reflection

We encourage children to observe, ask questions, form ideas, and explore answers—laying the foundation for scientific thinking in a joyful, meaningful way.

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Social and Emotional Development

Social & Emotional Development
At Woodland Forest, we teach to the whole child—helping children grow not just academically, but socially and emotionally. We believe that skills like empathy, communication, patience, and self-regulation are just as important as learning letters and numbers. Our goal is to ensure every child enters kindergarten not only ready to learn, but ready to thrive.

Social-emotional learning is embedded into everything we do. We focus on:

• Fostering empathy, kindness, and cooperation through group play and shared experiences

• Building self-confidence and emotional literacy, helping children name and navigate their feelings

• Encouraging self-help skills and independence through daily routines and responsibilities

• Supporting social skills like sharing, turn-taking, making friends, and resolving conflicts

• Providing opportunities for decision-making, allowing children to experience the natural consequences of their choices

• Developing executive function skills such as attention span, following directions, and impulse control

• Offering open-ended projects that promote reflection, creativity, and persistence

• Creating active learning environments, where children are engaged through movement, problem-solving, and hands-on discovery

• Practicing patience in context, like waiting for a turn at the sink or in a game

• Encouraging peer-to-peer support and celebrating one another’s efforts and progress

Through consistent routines, intentional teaching, and a nurturing environment, children gain the social and emotional foundation they need for lifelong success.

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Art, music, play

Art, Music & Play
For children ages 3–5, learning happens through doing. Their brains develop through hands-on, sensory-rich experiences that engage the whole child. At Woodland Forest, play, music, and art are not separate subjects—they are deeply woven into every part of our day and are essential to how children explore, express, and make sense of their world.

We believe that art, music, and play are powerful tools for both academic growth and social-emotional development. In our program, children:

• Create sculptures using natural materials, letting their imaginations lead the way

• Share their artwork and tell the stories behind their creations, building language and confidence

• Bake mud pies and practice fair sharing—learning about shapes, problem-solving, and community

• Listen to and tell stories, some with sing-along choruses that build rhythm, memory, and joy

• Engage in dramatic play that promotes empathy, creativity, and collaboration

Things to remember:

• Nearly every indoor preschool activity can be adapted to the outdoors—and we do!

• Alongside nature’s materials, children have access to traditional art supplies like crayons, construction paper, glue, glitter, and more—tools that help bring their ideas to life.

Through music, movement, creativity, and play, we nurture the whole child—supporting growth across all developmental domains in a joyful, meaningful way.