Who are the VYFWBP?

We are a friendly community group, run by parents, who meet every Thursday morning in West Bank Park, York. Whatever the weather, school hols included, we spend a couple of hours in the woods and meadows of the Park, doing nature games and crafts, building or making things with materials we find, telling stories and singing songs.

We are open to all - with a contribution of £1 a family (to cover basic equipment) - so if you want to join us, see you on Thursday at 10am at the statue of Queen Victoria, at the top of the Rose Walk. (Bring something simple to share at snack time.)

For more information contact Elly at: westbankparkkids@gmail.com

Saturday 24 January 2009

PUDDLES!!!

We did have something else planned for this week but the RAIN intervened. Well, there's no point in getting upset about it. Three brave families did turn up at the Park, despite the 'three raindrops' symbol on the weathermap, and obviously the theme of the morning was puddles. We all got sticks and found a good puddle - not too shallow, not too deep, not too small, not too big, just right for stirring. Then we found things to drop in to make a really tasty soup: berries, rotting beechnuts, crabapples, dead leaves, you know the sort of thing. There were a lot of arguments initially about who got the best berries or who got to mash the apple with their welly boot, but gradually the children started to cooperate a bit better and got very absorbed.

That puddle did keep us busy for a good long time - in fact, I think the children would have stayed there all morning. But adults have such short attention spans...so we headed off to the cafe to make pretend puddles with cardboard, glue and wool of various muddy colours. Then a really rowdy and vigorous singing-time and home we went.

Sometimes the rainy days are the good ones!

Sunday 18 January 2009

Wild boys of the woods...

I don't know what it is about boys, but there is definitely something...
Although it was cold, we stayed outside this Thursday and played in the woods. Ostensibly we were making percussion instruments with biscuit tins, and playing dressing-up races, but in fact, the BOYS were just going mad hurtling up and down the story tree mounds, stealing biscuit tins from each other, throwing minor and major tantrums. The poor (few) little girls were looking on wondering what on earth was going on.

It can sometimes be tricky to strike the right balance in wintertime, between 'planned' and 'unplanned' activities, crafts and free play. Luckily singing time is always a hit with most children and brings us all back together (with some of the wild boys as the band)!

Wednesday 14 January 2009

Making Suncathers, 8 January 2009

This week was a very exclusive meeting of the Very Young Friends, consisting of myself (Bryony) Erin and Iona! The plan was to make suncatchers, so with everything prepared we went ahead, the sun even shone so we could try them out!

Our beloved Queen Victoria

Our beloved Queen Victoria
We sometimes bow to her before we set off into the woods!