Why children need trees more than tablets

Walk into almost any primary school and you'll hear a similar concern.

Children are finding it harder to concentrate. The struggle to regulate emotions. Some arrive at school already overwhelmed, while others seem disconnected from learning altogether.

Schools have responded brilliantly. Staff work tirelessly to support children's wellbeing, provide pastoral care and create positive learning environments. Yet many educators feel that something fundamental is missing from modern childhood.

Increasingly, children spend their free time indoors. Opportunities for unstructured play, managed risk-taking and connection with nature have reduced dramatically over recent decades.

This matters because children are not designed to spend all day sitting still. They learn through movement. They develop confidence through challenge. They build resilience by encountering small setbacks and finding ways to overcome them.

This is where Forest School can make a remarkable difference.

What happens when children spend time outdoors?

At Forest School it's common to see children who struggle in the classroom thrive outdoors. The child who finds writing difficult becomes an expert den builder. The child who struggles with friendships finds a natural role with a team challenge.

Forest school provides opportunities for children to experience success in different ways. For many learners this can be transformative.

Forest school is often viewed as a wellbeing intervention, but it's impact extends much further.

Children develop:

• Confidence and self-esteem

• Problem-solving skills

• Communication and teamwork

• Resilience and perseverance

• Independence and responsibility

• Creativity and curiosity

These are not separate from academic success. They are the foundations that help children engage positively with learning.

When a child learns to persevere through the challenge of lighting a fire, building a shelter or creating a wooden obstacle course, they are also developing the mindset needed to tackle difficult tasks in the classroom.

The importance of Risk

One of the most valuable aspects of Forest School is the opportunity for children to encounter manageable risk.

Modern childhood is often highly structured and carefully controlled. While safety is essential, children also need opportunities to assess situations, make decisions and experience consequences in a supported environment.

Whether balancing on a log, using a tool or navigating woodland terrain, children learn to evaluate risk rather than avoid it altogether. This develops judgement, confidence and resilience.

Perhaps most importantly, Forest school creates a sense of belonging. Children work together, they solve problems together, they celebrate achievements together. In an increasingly digital world, these real world experiences matter more than ever.

Looking ahead

Schools face growing pressure to support not only academic achievement but also children's emotional wellbeing, resilience and personal development.

Forest School is not a magic solution. However it offers something many children are missing: the chance to slow down, connect with nature, take healthy risks and discover what they are capable of.

Sometimes the lessons that matter the most cannot be taught from a worksheet. Sometimes they being with a muddy pair of boots and a walk in the woods.