Waldspielgruppe

I dropped her off in all of her rain gear, boots, 2 pairs of socks, official rain bibs, fleece, rain jacket, hat, and gloves.  With her baby under her arm like a football hold, she stomped off being sure to splash in every puddle up the gravel path in the cold November rain.

It's so funny that most days, I am itching to have even just one less baby while being easily frustrated at how little I accomplish during the day with two babies hanging off of my every limb at any given moment.  Today, as I drove away, I felt nervous, anxious, even a little sad that she was off by herself for 2.5 hours.  I was able to go grocery shopping with a sleeping boy.  Believe me, even though I did miss her a little, it was a dream to aimlessly wander the aisles at the big grocery store.  

They all place their backpacks on the log benches in the tent.  

Waldspielgruppe is translated as "forest play group" and it's a big thing here in Switzerland.  There are also indoor spielgruppes, but I was hoping to get her into a forest one since before we even moved here.  I had read about it online--this blog and a few other websites-and couldn't wait to find one.  My Swiss friend actually has her little boy in one just 10 minutes away on Thursday mornings from 9:30-11am so I jumped at the chance to get her involved.  There are 9 children about 2 or 3 years old with two leaders.  The main leader actually has training in pedagogy and some type of certificate with the national Swiss spielgruppe collective/training.  

Last week, I actually went with her and stayed for the entire time, watching, making sure that she was comfortable and happy.  She didn't seem to care that I was there and mostly followed along with the other kids.  It's an informal but semi-organized play group that you pay to attend.  

When we show up, we all gather in a circle holding hands and sing a welcoming song in German.  Then they walk (as a group) about 1/4 mile past the farm fields up into the woods.

The leader pulls the wagon with all their backpacks up the hill to the woods.

They have a big tent set up with logs for seats, a fire pit, and another log circle sitting area.  Further away, the kids have used larger sticks to create a little fort of their own in a ditch.  For the first hour, they play, pick up pine cones, sticks, and rocks, and just trudge around in their boots exploring.  The leader prepares the fire and the snack with help from interested children.  She even had a few mini hand saws that the children used to help cut up firewood (but they mostly just tried to help, since the leader already has nicely cut firewood to use).  It's not a huge bonfire, more just like a little twig fire, but it's big enough to heat up their snack for the day. (I think it's usually sausages or soup heated on the fire, bread, and some kind of fruit-usually apples)  As soon as the fire is going, it seems that most of the kids like to throw sticks and leaves on it.  

The leaders are always keeping an eye on all the kids.  Some children are still in diapers while others are potty trained.  If one has to go potty, they just pull their pants down right there in the woods (away from the tent area).  When I was there, at one point, the main leader gathered all the children in a circle all sitting on the logs, and with a hand puppet, she went around asking names and ages, saying hello and singing a song with them.  Then she took out a picture book with different types of leaves and pinecones labeled.  After they each took a look at the page she opened to, they all set out gathering leaves, acorns, pine cones, and sharing what they found.  Once the snack was prepared--heating it up, cutting the bread and apples, and getting out plates, bowls, and spoons--they all gathered again sitting down to eat.  After snack, they played together, ran around, sat in the dirt, played swords with sticks, and crawled in their stick fort.  

Both the leaders speak a little English so I felt completely fine leaving Maddie because if she really needed something, they would be able to help.  The main leader is an older woman, a mother and grandmother herself, and extremely sweet with the little ones.  In fact, I probably would've picked her to be the leader- the picture perfect woman you would want to leave your kids with-smart, gentle, interested, patient, and caring.  The other leader is also all of the above and is a mother of one of the little girls.  It's a great mix of chaperoning and playing with the kids.  

The form for it detailed the leaders' information, had a group philosophy, included a specific list of gear they would need, among other things like information for parents, schedule, etc.

The philosophy in the form was similar to this:

Is there anything better than to enjoy the fresh air of nature, to feel it, they know in a playful way and appreciate?

We want to allow your child regularly and in any weather, dive together with his Spielgruppengspänli in the wonderful world of the forest, with all your senses again and again to discover the forest for food and room experience and to learn firsthand how the forest with him his plants and animals in the course of the year turns.

The forest is an inexhaustible source. Here's galore "material" is present, the senses and awaken all children's hearts beat faster. The children can experience directly as part of nature and build an individual relationship with her.

The forest has plenty of space for the various needs and moods of the children.You can find peace or let their energy run wild.

The forest is full of secrets; scout him is a huge adventure! We accompany your child, give him the greatest possible space for free play and yet very clear boundaries.

[taken from a neighboring town's Google translated Waldspielgruppe website]

Last week when we were walking towards the car afterward, she was fussy and temperamental.  So today, I expected to have a super fussy, tired, cold, wet, runny nosed little girl with a long 10 minute drive home.  (partly also because she didn't eat much of the provided snack)  

To my surprise, although cold, wet, and runny nosed, she was in great spirits, happy and cheerful all the way home (and really for the rest of the day).  The leaders said there was no crying or fussing the entire time, although again, she didn't eat much of the snack (not a surprise).  

Did I mention it is ALL WEATHER?  Rain, snow, cold, hot, the waldspielgruppe ventures out.

The Swiss are pretty tough compared to Americans.  In the USA, I'm sure this wouldn't happen-from weather, the hand saws, the fire-at least not without liability forms.  But like most other things here, the Swiss really let their kids live life and it's just so different (have I told you that kids as young as kindergarten walk to school by themselves?).  So far, it seems like a great place to raise kids.