Following in Froebel’s Footsteps – An evening with Kathryn Solly

Last Monday we (Stramash Elgin Team) travelled to Aberdeen to hear a talk given by Kathryn Solly in the theme of leading children’s adventures in nature through risk and challenge. Right up our street! 

These opportunities often follow a familiar pattern for me. I am excited to hear an expert validate what we do as FS and outdoor practitioners, I am keen to know how we can further develop our practice, site and learning opportunities for children and I am without fail, at some point, amazed by the echo chamber I live in!

This last realisation is important, particularly here (Highlands, Scotland) where the ‘outdoorsy life’ is more common and accepted. Where access to incredible green space is not only a local park or the corner of a playing field but acres of ancient woodland! 

Children in our nursery know a pine cone from an acorn, they know how to climb a tree and build a den, not only do they know how but have the regular opportunity to practice and develop these skills. They can find badger prints and deer couches, light fires from fire rods and some have better knot skills than me (well nearly!)

I have come from inner city sites, where the things our children take for granted are seen with awe and wonder. I have known settings who ‘buy in’ sensory nature items without any provenance for the children or context or discovery. Our children however have seen men climb trees with chainsaws to fell the dead branches; where do we go from there?!

Something Kathryn said (almost as an aside) really struck a chord with me. We do less. We follow their lead. We allow them (shock horror) to feel ‘bored’ – or at least not ‘kept entertained’. Because that is when the magic happens, that is the preceding stage to creativity, to problem solving and flexing their imaginative muscle. That is when they can take ownership of their own learning and experience. This is the chance for them to enter deep child led play & flow.

We provide the environment (and dynamically risk assess it) we enrich it with loose parts & seeds of suggestion and then we begin the ‘practitioner dance’ of retreat, observe, wait, advance the learning…and repeat.

We are also privileged to work closely with Juliet Robertson within our organisation. Juliet is a passionate and articulate advocate for ‘teachable moments’ within a setting like ours. She is on a one woman mission (if needs be, but fortunately is not alone!) to act as a translator or interpreter, making clear the learning that is occurring within an outdoor setting – the maths, literacy, fine and gross motor skills & things like ‘pre-handwriting’ skills etc. I often wish I could download her brain when writing up observations as she sees those links so automatically (fortunately I can read her books!)

We are in a time where that dialogue is critical. We know that what we’re doing works (learning & development) and that the wellbeing and health of the children (and practitioners) is far higher than an indoor setting. However we are still a minority. Its easy to forget when this is your daily experience but what we do is really very far out of a lot of peoples comfort zone. We have to ‘show our working out’ when reflecting on our practice, making decisions and identifying the learning.

Kathryn’s talk was (rightly) aimed at anyone in an early years setting. It was aspirational and practical with a focus on the evidence and benefits of some/any/all learning outside through risk and challenge. I feel we are somewhat ‘doing the practitioner dance’ with the early years ‘industry’ at the moment; sowing seeds of ideas, creating a positive learning environment, retreat, advance, support. Keep on doing and communicating. 

Attending great talks like this always lifts the spirits and gives opportunity to reflect on the bigger picture. Its exciting to be here, now, in a society that is progressive in its outdoor provision and attitudes to what we do. And it’s always good to meet others doing the ‘Outdoor Hokey Cokey’!