Nurseries for toddlers that like the outdoors, climbing and running?

[hanstands]

Hello there! Wondered if any parent can recommend or suggest any nurseries where there is more of an emphasis on physical activity and/or outdoor play [even in winter] locally or beyond?? I have a son who really takes little interest in painting/sitting at tables/being indoors etc and really at nursery age I would rather he was spending his time doing what he loves to do most...any ideas or other options besides nursery greatly appreciated...? Thankyou.

[Moos]

Maybe a bit left-field, but the German kindergarten on Red Post Hill has a beautiful, huge garden and they play outdoors every day. It's a wonderful, gentle, caring environment - oh, and the primary language spoken is English..

[womanofdulwich]

I felt a bit like this with my son, but he went to a montessori 3 mornings a week when he was 3.5 yrs and that meant he had to concentrate there,and i could be the person that played outside with him. All nurseries must get children to play outside some of the time, but if they need to run around a lot then a large open space is the best. They have got to learn to concentrate before they start proper school. Have you tried playing squash with him? this is a great way of tiring them out ( obviously you do not play to win, just to exhaust them).

[snowboarder]

Have you looked at Buds? Not sure how compares but my little boy just started there and has been outside a fair bit. But has returned with evidence of paint too....

[trinity]

Moos Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Maybe a bit left-field, but the German

> kindergarten on Red Post Hill has a beautiful,

> huge garden and they play outdoors every day.

> It's a wonderful, gentle, caring environment - oh,

> and the primary language spoken is English..

I met the German kindergarten staff and nursery children whilst in the park with my own child a little while ago. I was very impressed by how attentive and gentle the staff were towards the children and they clearly take them on trips to the park in addition to being able to run around in the garden.

[canadianlisa]

My 18 month old goes to Oak Tree Day Nursery in Honor Oak. It is a nursery in a converted house and the children have access to the garden all day long, it has big doors to the back as long as it is not raining. They dig in the garden and plant things as well. It is a small nursery and they seem to be fairly flexible in letting the individual children do things that they enjoy.

They tend to do the arts and crafts outside as well. I don't know about places etc but might be worth a look? PM me if you want more info.

Lisa

[hanstands]

Thanks so much all for posting your thoughts. I defo feel I've a list of possible nurseries to visit now, Buds, Oak Tree and Kindergarten all sound interesting and hopeful for what I think I'm looking for, yes, and the 'leftfield' German one too though we have no German connection -- if the attitude is outdoors and climbing etc then it could be great. Who knows, I'll know when I visit I guess. Woman of D, the problem isn't that my boy doesn't concentrate, he does, he's really good at concentrating its just that he tends to concentrate on climbing, balancing, testing his strength and speed! I don't see this as a bad thing, its simply him living out who he is. It feels so against the grain to force him to sit at desks at such a tender age if he doesn't want to. I hope that he'll have plenty of opportunities to sit down at desks and study in his older child years at the earliest and that it will come naturally in time...? Anyway, thanks all again for your inspiration.

[cuppa tea]

"the problem isn't that my boy doesn't concentrate, he does, he's really good at concentrating its just that he tends to concentrate on climbing, balancing, testing his strength and speed! I don't see this as a bad thing, its simply him living out who he is."

Brilliant! I have a little boy just like this and I have always tried to think of an eloquent way of putting this....thank you!

[Belle]

I have one like that...

he actually goes to a nursery with limited outside space, but it's enough for him and it's v play orientated so am happy that he's not being pushed into sitting at table/doing things when he's not inclined.

[Fuschia]

My son no 1 was like that and still is

At age 8 he spends a lot of his time reading on our shed roof and at school I believe he is rather a fidget and occasionally leaps up and dashes round the classroom

Luckily he has progressed well through early years and ks1 with his energy not being suppressed

[espelli]

Hanstands, I hope you manage to find a nursery that will support your son's need to be active.

Apologies if this is the wrong place to mention it, but thought that you may also be interested in this proposal for a primary school run very much with children like him in mind. Urban Green Primary

I am involved in the proposal and our group decided to start it because so often this drive to climb, run and explore continues after the age of 5 and we think it is important that children are able to continue their learning and development with this as part of the curriculum.

[ludoscotts]

hi dulwich village pre-school is good, its based in the old alleynian rugby club house, has a big garden with climbing frame, pirate ship, veg patch sand tables etc. Also it has the veranda with big gates that they lock at either end do even if its raining they can be outside. even in winter they would have outdoor time just wrapped up warm with hats and scalves and coats. lovely nursery with lots of activities. they even hatched some chicks before easter.

[BB100]

If you are prepared to travel a bit further then Rachel McMillan nursery in Deptford have a very strong outdoor focus and currently have free places available for 3-4 years old. The children are allowed to climb the trees, use real gardening tools and the ethos places an emphasis on children learning through taking risks. Most of the day is spent outdoors.

Chelwood also has a strong outdoor provision.

[hanstands]

The nurseries you mention BB100 sound amazing and ideally what I think we'd like best. If only we could make the journey. We don't have a car and pub trans to Deptford I think is slow and tedious. Hmmm. Might take a look anyway. I called up the Dulwich Village Preschool and they said they are 'allowed' only three quarters of an hour a day outside on the grass which doesn't sound long to me. But as you mention Ludoscotts they can feel the weather on the veranda section which is something I guess, anyway off to visit that one too next week! Thanks again for all the really great suggestions.