Forest School and Outdoor Preschool: Nature-Based Early Education

What if preschool happened in the woods instead of a classroom? Forest schools and outdoor preschools take learning outside—rain or shine—embracing nature as the ultimate learning environment. Children climb trees, build forts, splash in puddles, and discover the natural world through hands-on exploration.

This educational approach, which originated in Scandinavia, has grown rapidly worldwide as parents seek alternatives to screen-heavy, indoor-focused childhoods. This guide explores what forest schools and outdoor preschools offer, how they work, and whether nature-based education is right for your child.

What Is a Forest School?

Definition and Philosophy

Forest school is:

• An educational approach where children learn primarily outdoors
• Regular, repeated access to natural spaces
• Child-led, play-based learning
• Emphasis on risk-taking, resilience, and independence
• Learning through direct experience with nature

Core philosophy:

• Nature is the best classroom
• Children are capable and competent
• Risk is valuable for development
• Unstructured time in nature builds essential skills
• Connection to the natural world is foundational

Origins

History:

• Originated in Scandinavia in the 1950s-1970s
• "Friluftsliv" (open-air life) culture in Denmark, Sweden, Norway
• Brought to UK in 1990s
• Spread to US and globally in 2000s-2010s
• Now thousands of programs worldwide

Forest School vs. Outdoor Preschool vs. Nature Preschool

| Type | Description | |------|-------------| | Forest School | Specific methodology; trained practitioners; regular sessions in nature | | Outdoor Preschool | Any preschool primarily conducted outdoors | | Nature Preschool | Nature-focused curriculum; may be indoors or outdoors | | Nature-Based Program | Indoor program with nature emphasis | | Hybrid | Combination of indoor classroom and significant outdoor time |

What Happens at Forest School?

A Typical Day

Morning:

• Gather in nature (forest, field, beach)
• Opening circle (songs, discussion of the day)
• Free exploration and child-led play
• Adult-facilitated activities (optional, based on interest)

Midday:

• Snack or lunch outdoors
• More exploration and play
• Quiet time (stories, nature observation)

Afternoon:

• Continued play and discovery
• Closing circle (sharing, reflection)
• Transition home

Activities and Learning

What children do:

| Activity | Learning Opportunities | |----------|------------------------| | Building shelters | Engineering, teamwork, problem-solving | | Climbing trees | Physical development, risk assessment | | Playing in mud/water | Sensory development, science | | Finding/observing creatures | Biology, care for living things | | Gathering natural materials | Math (sorting, counting), creativity | | Imaginative play | Language, social skills, creativity | | Using tools (age-appropriate) | Fine motor skills, responsibility | | Navigating terrain | Gross motor skills, spatial awareness |

The Role of Adults

Forest school teachers:

• Facilitate rather than direct
• Follow children's interests
• Ensure safety while allowing risk
• Model curiosity and wonder
• Ask open-ended questions
• Provide materials and opportunities
• Step back and observe

Benefits of Forest School

Physical Development

Children develop:

• Gross motor skills (climbing, running, balancing)
• Fine motor skills (handling objects, tool use)
• Strength and coordination
• Immune system (exposure to outdoor microbes)
• Physical confidence

Research shows:

• More physical activity than indoor programs
• Better motor development
• Fewer sick days (counterintuitive but documented)

Cognitive and Academic Benefits

Skills developed:

• Scientific thinking (observation, hypothesis, testing)
• Math concepts (patterns, quantities, spatial relationships)
• Language and vocabulary (rich sensory experiences to describe)
• Problem-solving (unstructured challenges)
• Focus and attention (nature's restorative effects)
• Creativity (open-ended materials)

Social and Emotional Development

Children learn:

• Cooperation and teamwork
• Conflict resolution
• Independence and self-reliance
• Resilience and persistence
• Self-regulation
• Empathy (for nature and peers)
• Confidence from mastering challenges

Mental Health Benefits

Nature's impact on wellbeing:

• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Better emotional regulation
• Improved mood
• Sense of calm and grounding
• Connection to something larger than self

Studies show:

• Nature exposure reduces cortisol
• Green spaces improve attention in children with ADHD
• Outdoor play reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety

Environmental Awareness

Children develop:

• Love of nature and outdoors
• Understanding of ecosystems and seasons
• Respect for living things
• Early environmental stewardship
• Comfort and competence in nature

Concerns Parents Often Have

Weather Concerns

"What about rain/cold/heat?"

The motto: "There's no bad weather, only bad clothing."

How programs handle weather:

• Go outside in most conditions
• Proper gear makes it comfortable
• Extreme weather protocols (lightning, extreme cold/heat)
• Indoor backup for truly dangerous conditions

What you'll need:

• Rain gear (jacket, pants, boots)
• Layers for cold weather
• Sun protection for heat
• Multiple sets of clothing

Safety Concerns

"Isn't it dangerous?"

Reality:

• Forest school embraces appropriate risk, not danger
• Adults are trained in risk assessment
• Children learn to assess risk themselves
• Injuries are typically minor (scraped knees)
• Studies show similar or lower injury rates to traditional playgrounds

Risk vs. hazard:

• Risk: Climbing a tree (developmental benefit)
• Hazard: Broken glass on ground (removed)

Children learn:

• How to assess risk
• Their own limits
• How to take calculated chances
• How to recover from minor setbacks

Academic Readiness

"Will they be ready for kindergarten?"

Research indicates:

• Forest school children are often MORE ready
• Better focus and attention
• Stronger social-emotional skills
• Equivalent or better academic measures
• More curiosity and love of learning

Skills that transfer:

• Listening and following directions
• Working with peers
• Persistence through challenges
• Curiosity and questioning
• Fine motor development

Accessibility Concerns

Physical accessibility:

• Some programs accommodate mobility differences
• Terrain may be challenging for some children
• Ask about accommodations

Sensory needs:

• Some children thrive; others struggle
• Nature can be regulating or overwhelming
• Discuss your child's specific needs

Finding Forest School and Outdoor Programs

Where to Search

Finding programs:

• Natural Start Alliance (naturalstart.org) directory
• Forest School Association (UK) or local equivalent
• Google: "forest school [your city]" or "outdoor preschool [your city]"
• Nature preschool directories
• Local parenting groups

Questions to Ask

About the program:

1. "What's your educational philosophy?"
2. "How much time is spent outdoors?"
3. "What happens in severe weather?"
4. "What training do your teachers have?"
5. "What does a typical day look like?"

About safety: 6. "What are your safety protocols?" 7. "How do you handle risk?" 8. "What's your emergency plan?" 9. "What's your ratio of adults to children?" 10. "Are staff first-aid/CPR trained?"

About logistics: 11. "What gear does my child need?" 12. "Where is the outdoor site?" 13. "What are bathroom facilities?" 14. "Is there any indoor space?" 15. "What's the cost?"

Evaluating Quality

Look for:

• Trained forest school practitioners
• Clear philosophy and approach
• Appropriate adult-to-child ratios
• Safety protocols in place
• Happy, engaged children
• Evidence of learning happening
• Positive parent feedback

Red flags:

• No training or philosophy
• Chaotic environment
• Safety concerns not addressed
• Adults constantly directing play
• No structure at all (different from child-led)

Practical Considerations

Gear and Clothing

Essential gear:

| Condition | What You Need | |-----------|---------------| | Rain | Waterproof jacket, rain pants, rubber boots | | Cold | Layers, warm coat, hat, mittens, insulated boots | | Heat | Sun hat, sunscreen, breathable clothes, water | | All weather | Sturdy closed-toe shoes, change of clothes |

Quality matters:

• Invest in good rain gear (cheap gear fails)
• Layers are key for cold
• Expect clothes to get dirty (very dirty)
• Have backups at program site

Cost Comparison

Forest school tuition varies:

| Type | Typical Cost | |------|--------------| | Part-time forest school (2-3 days) | $200-$500/month | | Full-time outdoor preschool | $400-$900/month | | Premium nature programs | $500-$1200/month | | Add: gear investment | $100-$300 one-time |

Often comparable to or less than traditional preschools in the same area.

Schedule Options

Common formats:

• Full-day outdoor preschool (5 days/week)
• Part-time (2-3 days/week)
• Forest school as enrichment (1 day/week)
• Summer forest camps
• Hybrid programs (outdoor + some indoor)

Is Forest School Right for Your Child?

Ideal For:

• [ ] Children who love being outdoors
• [ ] Active kids who struggle to sit still
• [ ] Sensory seekers
• [ ] Children who thrive with unstructured time
• [ ] Families who value nature connection
• [ ] Kids who need more physical challenge
• [ ] Children who benefit from calm environments

May Be Challenging For:

• [ ] Children very uncomfortable outdoors
• [ ] Sensory-avoidant children (may need gradual introduction)
• [ ] Families without access to outdoor gear
• [ ] Children needing significant indoor structure
• [ ] Medical conditions affected by weather exposure

Note: Many children who initially seem unlikely candidates thrive with the right support and time to adjust.

Questions to Consider

For your family:

• Does outdoor time in all weather work for our lifestyle?
• Can we invest in proper gear?
• Are we comfortable with appropriate risk?
• Is there a program accessible to us?
• Does this philosophy align with our values?

For your child:

• How does my child respond to nature?
• Would they enjoy this kind of play?
• Can they handle weather variations?
• What skills would they develop?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What age is forest school appropriate for?

A: Programs exist for children from infancy through elementary school and beyond. Most preschool forest schools serve ages 3-6. Younger children (2-3) may attend with modifications. The approach adapts to any age.

Q: Do children still learn academics?

A: Yes—through nature-based exploration. Math, science, language, and pre-literacy happen naturally. Research shows forest school children are well-prepared academically, often exceeding traditional preschool outcomes.

Q: What about children with allergies (bee stings, etc.)?

A: Most programs can accommodate allergies with proper planning. EpiPens are kept on site. Staff are trained in response. Discuss specific allergies before enrolling.

Q: How do children go to the bathroom outside?

A: Programs have varying solutions—portable toilets, nearby facilities, or age-appropriate outdoor toilet practices. This is less of an issue than parents expect.

Q: Will my child get sick from being outside in the cold/rain?

A: Counterintuitively, outdoor children often get sick less—their immune systems are stronger from outdoor exposure, and illnesses spread less easily outdoors. Proper gear keeps children comfortable.

Q: What if my child hates getting dirty?

A: Some children need time to adjust. Good programs don't force messiness but create environments where it's okay to explore. Many previously dirt-averse children become enthusiastic forest school participants.

Conclusion

Forest school and outdoor preschool offer a powerful alternative to traditional early childhood education—one that honors children's need for nature, movement, and unstructured play. In a world of increasing screen time and indoor sedentary life, nature-based education provides balance.

Key takeaways:

1. Nature is a rich learning environment where all developmental domains flourish
2. Appropriate risk builds resilience and self-confidence
3. Weather is manageable with proper gear and preparation
4. Academic readiness develops alongside physical and social-emotional skills
5. Not every child is suited but many who seem unlikely candidates thrive

If you're drawn to a childhood that includes more mud, more trees, and more time under the open sky, forest school might be exactly what you're looking for.

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Explore more preschool philosophies in our guides on Montessori vs traditional preschool, how to choose a preschool, cooperative preschool, and when to start preschool.