As the days shorten and the light turns golden, last week’s play had a distinctly autumnal feel. Hallowe’en was a strong theme — there were pumpkins to scoop, potions to mix, and wands to wave — but as always, nature provided most of what we needed.
Wands appeared not from plastic tubs but from sticks and stems of bracken, chosen carefully for their shape and texture.
Potion-making invited exploration of all sorts of textures and sensations — slippery, squishy, gloopy and sparkly — as children mixed and experimented with great seriousness.
We kept an old Scottish tradition alive too — dooking for apples and, with a more modern nod, scooping pumpkins rather than turnips!
We explored a different area of the woods this week, and the children immediately noticed how the new space offered fresh possibilities for play and challenge. The slope, the trees, and the uneven ground invited climbing, balancing, and adventure — from stamping through the burn to testing balance on an old mossy wall and fallen logs. Each new feature of the landscape brought fresh opportunities for movement, imagination, and joy.
For all the bright colours and shop-bought sparkle of Hallowe’en, what truly captured the children’s attention were nature’s own displays — fungi bursting through the woodland floor, golden leaves, glistening webs and tree reflections shimmering in the puddles.
It reminds us that seasonal celebrations don’t have to be about what we buy or add — they can be about what we notice and create together. There’s plenty of magic to be found outdoors if we know where to look.
When children play under the trees, they are surrounded by shifting light, movement, and sound. Their senses are sharpened as they notice what rustles, glimmers, or glows. The natural world already holds all the ingredients for wonder — and that’s the kind of Hallowe’en we love best.
So as we move from October into the darker months ahead, we’ll keep following the children’s lead — finding enchantment not in decorations, but in discovery. After all, a puddle that reflects the trees can be just as magical as any crystal ball.
Next time you’re outdoors take a moment to notice the changes autumn brings. Look for fungi, glistening webs, or reflections in puddles, and talk about what you see. These small moments of noticing help children tune in to nature’s quiet magic.
Cambusbarron Village Nursery 