Forest Parent and Child Class

Join our Forest Parent & Child Class
Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday mornings!

Experience the seasons like never before
as we explore in the forest each day.

Participate in our invigorating circle – where songs, movement, and storytelling are interwoven to present a living literary experience enjoyed by both parents and children. Crafts are offered that appeal to adults and children in their simplicity and beauty. Forest class participants receive parent enrichment articles by the instructor each week on various topics on child development: benefits of time outside in nature, sharing, social conflict, creating rhythm in the home, schedule overwhelm, upholding seasonal traditions, and more.

COVID-19 related safety protocol updates to this program are listed below.

This was so inspirational (as usual!)… your description of unstructured play and its benefits really clicks for us! We’ve seen how our daughter’s play habits have evolved. The last part of your reading was especially relatable. We’ve noticed how we’ve tried to sit back and watch her when she’s really involved in something. Whereas before, we always felt we had to guide her or be right in the middle of it. Thank you Anne!

— Holly, Forest Parent & Child Class parent
referencing an article written by the class instructor

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For more information about the Parent & Child program, please contact the Parent & Child Program Coordinator at acoyner@cwaldorf.org.

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Our Forest Parent & Child Classes include:

• Playtime in the forest
• Circle time with songs & poems
• Storytime
• Snack time
• Craft or Forest Hike
• Google Classroom with Parent Enrichment Essays, and more!

Resources:

• Cold Weather and Rain Gear Information – Suggestions and resources for dressing young children for outdoor play in colder weather
• I Had a Gloriously Wild Childhood. That’s Why I Wrote ‘How to Train Your Dragon.’ opinion piece by Cressida Cowell from the New York Times, February 2020
• Benefits of an Outdoor Education by Anne Coyner

Forest Class Safety Protocol:

• All classes held exclusively outdoors, rain or shine.
• Participants bring their own food for snack.
• Adults and children (age 2 and up) will be required to wear cloth masks** unless we are eating snack, or a child needs a mask break and is able to stay physically distanced from other participants. Instructor will remove her mask when socially distanced for songs and story
• Adult participants will complete an online health screening form prior to each class and all participants will have a temperature reading upon arrival.

**If school restrictions are relaxed through CDC or the VA State Health Department, the mask restriction may be amended.

Additional Information about class: 

• We are striving for a morning that feels as normal as possible. This class is for parents interested in maintaining social interaction for young children, who are comfortable with singing in a group outside (at a safe distance), and storytelling. 
• Since children are masked, we are not requiring children to keep social distance –nor would that work with little ones! However, in circle time we sit on our blankets with safe distancing between families.
• Adult participants should bring their own hand sanitizer &/or wipes if you need them.
• The instructor may give gentle reminders for mask use.
• Adults choosing to take this class are responsible for maintaining a low-anxiety environment for the children – together in collaboration.  The instructor recommends adult conversation exclude the virus and topics that can create anxiety for children and other adults.

All new enrollees will receive a phone call or email from the instructor regarding class protocols.

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Parent and Child Faculty