Stepping Stones and the Stick Man Trail

Today, parents were invited to Stepping Stones to see their children lead the Stickman Trail, a wonderful wintry walk through the Haresfoot woods, complete with lots of festive carols.

Stepping Stones has been excited all week to show their parents the songs and stories that they have been learning at Berkhamsted Nursery. Dressed up in their best Christmas jumpers and wellies, they led their parents (in an exceedingly neat line) through the story of ‘Stick Man,’ Julia Donaldson’s famous Christmas tale. Our children had practised this walk, and the Christmas carols they would sing along the way- but what they didn’t know was that a series of surprises would be awaiting them in the forest!

Just like in Julia Donaldson’s book, Stepping Stones first met a dog in the woods. Luckily, we can confirm that this dog was much nicer than the Stick Man’s- as we would expect from one of our Prep wellbeing pups! Stepping Stones also threw pooh sticks on the ‘river,’ played on the sandy beach and met an incredibly large inflatable swan. At each site, the children stopped to sing festive songs and recount ‘Stick Man’s’ story.

This woodland fun was only just getting started. As Stepping Stones led their parents towards the next site, a snowman, they looked around and noticed what was falling softly around them. It had begun snowing! Shrieks of delight lit up Haresfoot as our children played amongst the snow. What a wonderful walk this had been!

After all this hard work leading parents around the woods, Stepping Stones relaxed in front of a fire, with a hot chocolate and biscuit in hand. ‘This is amazing!’ one child expressed. Little did he know, there was one more surprise left…

Stepping Stones noticed the sound of a bell ringing around the corner, and a flash of red and white. Who was that, ringing his Christmas bell? Why, it’s Father Christmas, of course!

The children were delighted to meet Father Christmas, taking the opportunity to ask him all manner of important festive questions. Some of the more pressing included, ‘Where do you park your sleigh?’ and ‘What should we leave you on Christmas Eve?’ Father Christmas was happy to answer the latter! Once Stepping Stones were satisfied with their answers, and had shown Father Christmas their Christmas jumpers, it was time to go back to Nursery for the rest of the day.

This was a wonderful event to bring festive cheer to the Haresfoot woods and showcase the playful experiential learning that makes Stepping Stones such a special place to be. Now, we’ll have to ask our caretaker if he’ll help make it snow again on Christmas day…