Let's take a walk in the woods

Oh the beautiful season of chestnuts and chestnuts, trees turning red, yellow, and pretty leaves to pick. No question of spending autumn on our living room rug, even if in terms of comfort, we are really comfortable there ;) It's time to go for a walk in the forest! And why not transform this walk into a moment of awakening and sharing, by taking our little ones out of their stroller (and our rugs)

For Sophie Lernould, psycho-corporal companion and founder of Bien être en mouvement , the benefits of being outdoors are numerous for our children (as for us!), and this, from a very young age. So at Mezamé, we put on our boots and chose to join her on an outing with her mini Nature Club dedicated to toddlers from walking to 3 years old.

With five other mothers, we follow Sophie and her cart, filled with a whole mess, into the forest. She soon stops to set up large tarps on the ground and her mat, borrowed (and adopted) for the occasion, on which we sit to discover the morning's program. " I always prepare a semi-guided activity ," she will tell us later , "but above all, I trust the strongest! The arrival of a snail or a puddle of water can quickly take over what I had planned, so what? The important thing is the awakening of the senses , for the rest, I have no particular expectations ! "

Today, Sophie has planned a treasure hunt: each child (or parent) has a sheet with items to find in the forest, and a basket to collect them in. " If you don't find everything, that's okay," she says with a smile . "Parents, I'm counting on you to let go! "

For three years and through the various workshops she offers, Sophie has been keen to encourage children's contact with nature, but above all, she wants to help parents understand and integrate the benefits of free movement. " Parents need this, to let their child climb a mound of earth alone rather than holding their hand, to let them get their hands dirty, jump in the mud, feel the wind blowing or the rain on their face… There is a very strong link between the child's psychomotor development and the experiences he can have outdoors .

Once we have collected our leaves of all colors, our pebbles and small sticks, we come together to create a large collective work, Land Art style. It is not always easy to share your own finds with others but the result is worth it! Sophie arranges all these little treasures, we have the impression of creating a real work of art. We hear the "wow" coming from all sides!

Before leaving, Sophie suggests a free play time with a makeshift kitchen, which the children really enjoy. It's a time to quietly make a nice stone soup in your own corner, digging the earth with a spoon, without worrying about others or any possible instructions. " These moments of free play are precious; they allow children to act with full awareness. They do something for themselves, and for no one else. This brings together all the benefits of outdoor schooling: calm and serenity . "

This whole little group will part with smiles, pockets full of chestnuts and their heads full of desire to get outdoors!

For more information: @bien_etre_en_mouvement and www.bienetreenmouvement.com