I used to tell my grandparents a story about an invisible polar bear when I was little. He is now coming to life 😀 Marnie and Arnie is a bout a girl and her best friend who is an invisible polar bear. They go on adventures and Arnie teaches Marnie lessons through nature as they go.

Three Years Is Too Long: Why Families Can’t Wait for CAMHS This week I received a letter from CAMHS about my daughter’s referral. It told me the expected wait time: 2.5 to 3 years. Three years. That’s my daughters entire middle childhood stage and that is just not acceptable. That’s the difference between a child struggling silently and a teenager carrying scars into adulthood. And yet, families across the UK are being told to wait this long for vital mental health support. I couldn’t accept that. So I booked private therapy. At £60 per session, it’s a financial strain, but I felt I had no choice. Because when your child needs help, you find a way—even if the system has failed you. But here’s the truth: not every family can afford to go private. Therapy costs in the UK often range from £50 to £100+ per session. For many, that’s simply out of reach. And so children are left waiting, worrying, and worsening. This isn’t just my story. National reports show thousands of children stuck on CAMHS waiting lists, with some waiting years. Staff are working under impossible conditions, but the system is underfunded and overstretched. Children’s mental health is being treated as optional, not urgent. What does this mean for families? Parents are forced into impossible choices: pay privately or watch their child deteriorate. Inequality deepens, because only those with financial means can access timely care. Children’s futures are compromised by political decisions made today. I share this not just to vent my frustration, but to call for change. We need urgent investment in children’s mental health services. We need accountability for the promises made and broken. And we need compassion—for the families holding everything together while the system falls apart. For now, I’m grateful my daughter will get the support she needs. But I’m angry that it comes at such a cost, and that so many others are left behind. 👉 Our children cannot afford to wait years for help. And as parents, educators, and advocates, we cannot afford to stay silent.

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🌲❄️ Wood Slice Snowmen – Learning Through Creativity Last week our children became true makers! They carefully used a saw to slice their wood pieces, drilled two holes, and threaded them together with a pipe cleaner that doubled as a scarf. With great patience, they painted their snowmen white, waited for them to dry, and then added all the finishing details. The results were magical—but the learning was even richer: 🌟 Learning Outcomes: 🌱 Communication & Language: Talking through steps, naming tools, and describing their snowmen. 🌱 Personal, Social & Emotional Development: Patience, turn-taking, pride in achievement, and celebrating each other’s creations. 🌱 Physical Development: Fine motor skills through sawing, drilling, threading, and painting. 🌱 Understanding the World: Exploring tools, materials, and the process of transformation. 🌱 Expressive Arts & Design: Creativity, design thinking, and imaginative representation. 🌟 Schemas at Play: 🌱 Connecting – joining slices with pipe cleaners. 🌱 Enclosure – framing the snowman’s body with circles. 🌱 Trajectory – brush strokes and drilling movements. 🌱 Rotation – turning slices to paint and align holes. 🌱 Positioning – arranging features like eyes, nose, and scarf. ✨ The children showed resilience, patience, and joy in creating something from start to finish. Their snowmen are not just decorations—they are symbols of learning, creativity, and teamwork. 👀 If you want to learn about learning through schemas in nature join our Accreditation training now https://jodie-s-site-e84d.thinkific.com/products/courses/unlock-childs-potential 👀 If you would like to learn through nature with seasonal nature studies join our Nature Study subscription now https://payhip.com/WheretheWildOnesLearn #WhereTheWildOnesLearn #NaturePlay #SchemaPlay #CreativeLearning #OutdoorEducation

At 7, she still chooses play. In the mud kitchen, making pies with messy hands and a huge smile. Play isn’t “just for little ones” — it’s how children: - 🌱 Build creativity and imagination - 🧠 Strengthen problem‑solving skills - 💬 Practice social and emotional learning - 💪 Develop resilience and confidence Childhood doesn’t have an expiry date. Let’s protect the joy of play, because it’s the foundation of learning and wellbeing. Check out our nature studies now, link in bio. 💚 #MudKitchen #PlayMatters #childhoodunplugged #natureplay #outdoorlearning