Little Foresteers delighted to showcase their artwork in woodland exhibition

Children from Foresteers Outdoor Preschool in Oughtibridge were delighted to showcase their artwork in a woodland exhibition on their last day of term on Friday 22nd July.

Kids aged two to five took part in an art workshop in the woodland with local cut paper collage artist, Kat Taylor, using a variety of recycled and found materials to make self portrait collages.

Foresteers manager, Hayley Smith, says, “the children had a wonderful time working with Kat to make their portraits and it was great to see their individuality shining through in their artwork.”

The children displayed their work in lollipop stick picture frames that they had made and decorated in the woodland, and took them home after their end of term party as a memento of their time at Foresteers.

“To me, art with kids is so much more than making a pretty picture,” says Kat. “It stimulates their imaginations and creativity, develops problem solving skills, makes them more observant, improves fine motor skills and reduces stress. The act of framing and exhibiting their work boosts their self-esteem and gives them a sense of pride in something they have created. Watching the children work, I saw deep concentration and focus; they each took great care in selecting their materials, carefully cutting and then arranging them just so on the page.”

Family members were invited to the exhibition during a special event in the woods with a tour of the setting and a chance to play with their children in their favourite areas, whether it be the mud kitchen, dough hut, stage or any of the other specially designed areas. Parents were thrilled to see their children’s artwork hanging in their woodland hut on what, for many, would be their last day of preschool before their next milestone of starting school in September.

One Foresteers parent, Mark, said, “Our daughter loves art so was very excited to spend time with Kat learning about collage, even more so to show us her finished portrait and give us a guided tour of where all the magic happens; and Foresteers really is a magical place.”