Weathering the Storm at Birdwings Forest School
We aren’t strangers to wild weather at Birdwings Forest School. As we spend our days outdoors, we’ve experienced all kinds of weather—except for the extreme kind! We take weather seriously here: wet weather is great for playing in, but wild weather isn’t. We stay alert, but calm, because that’s exactly what we want to teach the children, too. Big experiences, especially in nature, are important, but how we manage ourselves through them is a skill we can learn from those around us.
Currently, Cyclone Alfred is making his presence felt. He may or may not turn out to be extremely wild and windy, and that uncertainty is part of what makes wild weather so anxious for many. We just don’t know what might—or might not—happen! And if it does happen, how wild will it be? While we can shelter children from the media hype, we still need to make preparations, just in case.
So, we’re quietly preparing our site at Birdwings, making sure all is secure. We’re also talking calmly with the children about different kinds of weather, if they ask. If anyone starts to feel worried, we have our creative processes to help them navigate the experience: staying calm, keeping things playful, acknowledging feelings, and using the arts to process what’s happening. Songs, stories, dress-ups, puppet play, and, of course, nature play—these are the best remedies for our wellbeing.
If you, or your child, are beginning to feel a little apprehensive, here’s a story to help process the experience.
We’ve provided the story for you here, but if you’d like a pretty printed version, with our guide on how to provide support for children in extreme weather, you can DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
The Wind, The Rain, and the Safe Warm Home
Written by Jennifer McCormack
The wind is rising, blowing strong,
The trees are waving, holding on.
The clouds are darker and the sky’s aglow,
The birds are calling—loud, they know!
“Get ready!” they cry, “Something is near!
Tuck yourselves in, stay warm, my dear.
Put the outside things back in the shed,
Keep your animals dry and ready for bed.”
“Get ready!” they call, “Make a cup of tea,
Nice and warm for you and me.
We’ll stay dry and safe inside,
With lots of books and games by our side.”
“Get ready!” they tell us, “But this will pass.
It’s wild and wet on the trees and the grass.
We’ll watch the rain and hear the wind call,
They’re playing rough and tumble, that’s all.
The birds settle in, and so do we.
Will it stop? Yes, just wait and see.
When it’s all finished, when all is done,
The clouds will part for the shining sun.
Puddles will glisten, the air will be bright,
The world washed fresh in golden light.
We’ll step outside, the birds will sing—
“Welcome back! You weathered the wind!”
This story is a gentle reminder that the storm will pass, but we do have to get ready for it – and calm will return. Let’s all take a deep breath and weather it together. If you would like to share this story with your children and community, you are welcome to – please acknowledge us as authors. If you’d like to learn more about writing healing stories for children, we’d love to help.
We’ll be covering Ecological Storytelling in our 3-day course, The Art & Practice of Australian Nature Pedagogy this year, where we explore how stories can nurture children’s connection to nature and their emotional resilience. We also have a recorded webinar to get you started on your journey. Feel free to look at the links in our website or contact us for more details!
This is very heart warming, good job to everyone involved, I really respect you all.