FussyElmo
14-03-2010, 05:26 PM
Yesterday we went to the outdoor conference held for us and for the most part it was brillant.
Out first speaker was Helen Bilton and if you get a chance to see her she was fabulous really inspirational and passionate about the outdoors. She said that outdoor play is NOT a 20 minute beak consisting of 15 bikes, a climbing frame and 3 fed up adults. Ok alot of it was aimed at nurserys pre schools and school.
She also said that you cannot catch a cold by being outside only if you get chilled so wrap up. She also went on to say if she deems it cold enough then you will wear a coat.
She was funny down to earth and I quite like people who say flipping heck when giving a speech. She also showed lots of photos of children climbing and kept pointing out that no one died - shock horror :eek: and if they did fall pick them up and put a plaster on if needed.
She also asked about what was so wrong with wood why did it have painted in bright colours and that children weren't cretins :)
We then did workshops. Me and Nell did den building (she has photos :rolleyes: ) which was really good fun. We got spilt into group and given a bag of materials and was told to build a den.
Then dinner (we were spoilt at the hotel restaraunt).
Another speaker Paddy Beals who again was passionate about the outdoors and the fun and learning that could go on outside which couldnt happen inside.
Another workshop on low cost activites for the outside. This I found disappointing. Considering half the room were childminders the trainer didnt grasp the fact.
Then we had another speaker a storyteller Katrice Horsley who again if you get chance go and see her. Her description of herself was Mary Poppins on acid. She was funny amazing and mind blowing and hopefully I will be taking some of her ideas on board.
Got to say our Early Years team did a great job of organising the day and hopefully we will get more.
We even got a free book Playing Outside by Helen Bilton.
Out first speaker was Helen Bilton and if you get a chance to see her she was fabulous really inspirational and passionate about the outdoors. She said that outdoor play is NOT a 20 minute beak consisting of 15 bikes, a climbing frame and 3 fed up adults. Ok alot of it was aimed at nurserys pre schools and school.
She also said that you cannot catch a cold by being outside only if you get chilled so wrap up. She also went on to say if she deems it cold enough then you will wear a coat.
She was funny down to earth and I quite like people who say flipping heck when giving a speech. She also showed lots of photos of children climbing and kept pointing out that no one died - shock horror :eek: and if they did fall pick them up and put a plaster on if needed.
She also asked about what was so wrong with wood why did it have painted in bright colours and that children weren't cretins :)
We then did workshops. Me and Nell did den building (she has photos :rolleyes: ) which was really good fun. We got spilt into group and given a bag of materials and was told to build a den.
Then dinner (we were spoilt at the hotel restaraunt).
Another speaker Paddy Beals who again was passionate about the outdoors and the fun and learning that could go on outside which couldnt happen inside.
Another workshop on low cost activites for the outside. This I found disappointing. Considering half the room were childminders the trainer didnt grasp the fact.
Then we had another speaker a storyteller Katrice Horsley who again if you get chance go and see her. Her description of herself was Mary Poppins on acid. She was funny amazing and mind blowing and hopefully I will be taking some of her ideas on board.
Got to say our Early Years team did a great job of organising the day and hopefully we will get more.
We even got a free book Playing Outside by Helen Bilton.