Category: Uncategorised
Puddle Patter
We are almost at the halfway point for 2021 registration season and to say things are a little different this year is an understatement. Human beings are an incredibly adaptive species, and of course necessity is the mother of invention! So it is that Stramash (the outdoors, muddy kids, loose parts people) have ‘gone digital’, and amazingly not totally crazy in the process! We … Read More Puddle Patter
Is outdoor nursery the answer?
So how do you maintain children’s health and wellbeing during a global pandemic? Is outdoor nursery part of the answer? Well it’s certainly a big (wellyboot’d) step in the right direction – and not only for the reasons you might think. Life in the time of C19 has been well termed) ‘a coronacoaster’, describing the unique blend of ups and downs experienced when living … Read More Is outdoor nursery the answer?
Guest Post – Cameron Sprague – Sobel Principles (3)
Sobel Post 3, Special Places: I started writing my Sobel posts with the best will in the world and of course life, running a busy nursery, and a hectic training schedule put them to the back of my mind. I was reminded in March about these posts with full intention of starting back up again and then a worldwide pandemic started lockdown and I’m … Read More Guest Post – Cameron Sprague – Sobel Principles (3)
Working in an outdoor nursery – what are the benefits to our teams?
Working in a fully outdoor nursery is truly a job like no other. We often talk about the benefits to children (and rightly so!) But what you may not realise is that many of these benefits also apply to practitioners and those working in our environments. Time in nature Proven to reduce stress and anxiety and increase feelings of wellbeing, rather than typically noisy, … Read More Working in an outdoor nursery – what are the benefits to our teams?
Recommended Reading
Outdoor learning grows in Scotland Why kids need to spend time in nature Journal on the importance of place based education Health benefits of time spent outdoors Benefits of self directed learning Building resilience in children Play with limited toys Outdoor Learning Optimizes Children’s Well-Being The New Science of the Creative Brain on Nature Physical activity may help kids do better in school, studies … Read More Recommended Reading
Guest post! Cameron Sprague
Is anyone still out there?! We’ve been a bit absent from this blog haven’t we?! We are back with a doozy of a post though from our very own Cameron Sprague, team leader extraordinarie at Fort William, all about Sobel’s design Principles – this week principles 1&2. “The team for a while have been thinking about how we can share the ways children learn … Read More Guest post! Cameron Sprague
Nursery world – Non verbal communication
Stramash was recently featured as a case study in Nursery World Magazine talking about the importance of non verbal communication. “What we say to children in their formative years can influence their thoughts and feelings about themselves, but our behaviour towards them, each other and the world in general has even more of an impact, says Jess Greenhill, outdoor practitioner at Stramash Social Enterprise, which … Read More Nursery world – Non verbal communication
Stramash one of only 20% of child care employers who pay real living wage
Article in The National Here Read our news release in full below: Only 20% of employers in the childcare sector offer the real living wage to all their staff and Argyll-based Stramash is proud to be one of them. The non-profit social enterprise was established in May 2009, starting as a spin-off from Argyll and Bute Council, to provide outdoor activities to local communities … Read More Stramash one of only 20% of child care employers who pay real living wage
Transitions
What are transitions? Transitions are the ‘going from and to’ – another word for a change or shift, in activity, situation or environment. They might happen in small ways throughout the day for example going from playing to sitting down to lunch or be more significant e.g. starting nursery More significant transitions – Milestone Events Milestone transitions are the major changes that occur throughout … Read More Transitions
Tornagrain Nursery in the News
New base for outdoor nursery at Tornagrain Children at Torngrain’s outdoor nursery watched their new building take shape earlier this week. Social enterprise and outdoor learning specialists Stramash set up a nursery in the woods at Tornagrain in the middle of August and now have 15 children aged three to five. The new nursery building will act as a base with most of the … Read More Tornagrain Nursery in the News
Minister for children sees her vision in action!
Increasing the amount of time children spend outdoors as part of their funded early learning and childcare entitlement is one of the ambitions of the Scottish Government’s expansion. The Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd has visited one such setting, who have been championing an immersive, nature based, outdoor nursery since 2009. Stramash Social Enterprise an established outdoor provider, welcomed news of … Read More Minister for children sees her vision in action!
