There are simple moments that stay in a child’s memory for a long time: a morning spent in nature, an adventure shared with dad, the courage to try something new while having a trusted adult by their side. In the early years of life, these kinds of experiences play a far more important role than we might initially think.
An increasing number of studies in the field of early childhood education show that father figures contribute significantly to children’s development of autonomy, self-confidence, and emotional resilience. Naturally, fathers tend to encourage exploration, physical challenges, and active play — experiences through which children learn to test their limits and build courage.
Starting from this idea, Avenor Nursery chose to transform a morning spent with fathers into a practical and authentic experience held in Băneasa Forest – a space that has been part of the children’s educational journey since their earliest years.
Instead of a traditional classroom activity, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures were invited to spend a morning in nature, taking part in activities inspired by the British concept of “Risk Play” – play through exploration, challenge, and taking controlled risks.
The Forest — A Learning Space and a Teacher at the Same Time
Children and adults built birdhouses together, took part in balance games, explored unusual textures and materials in the mud kitchen, and discovered what a real “Forest Classroom” looks like – a place where nature itself becomes a learning environment.
“Specialists increasingly talk about children’s need to experience ‘managed risk’ – age-appropriate, controlled challenges that help them develop decision-making skills, problem-solving abilities, and self-confidence. Through this ‘managed risk’, we are not exposing children to danger; rather, we are teaching them how to navigate the real world with caution and courage. It is one of the foundations of active learning: the satisfaction of succeeding at something that initially seemed challenging,” explains Tania Păduraru Răduță, Head of Nursery at Avenor Nursery.
Băneasa Forest offers one of the best possible settings for these kinds of experiences.
“In the outdoors, children explore more freely, test their bodies, create, and cooperate. A puddle becomes an experiment, a log becomes a balance exercise, and mud becomes a material for imagination and sensory development. More than that, nature also changes the way adults interact with children. The relationship becomes more authentic, more relaxed, and more present,” adds Tania Păduraru Răduță.
How Can Fathers Become More Involved in Their Children’s Lives from an Early Age?
For many of the parents present, the morning spent in the forest was also a rare opportunity to reconnect. Without phones, without rushing, and without the usual workday morning routine, all attention shifted entirely toward the relationship with their child.
The event also brought forward an essential topic for modern families: how fathers’ presence during the early years lays the foundation for long-term trust and connection. This bond does not require elaborate plans or sophisticated activities.
On the contrary, the magic happens in moments of consistency and emotional availability – such as the joy of building a small boat together from a stick found on the ground. Our educators often observe that, for a child, having their father there “in the grass” beside them is one of the strongest signals of support. This relaxed presence gives children the confidence to explore and make mistakes – essential elements of learning. In the end, it is not the objects built in the forest that remain most important, but the feeling of “togetherness” that gives children strong roots.
At Avenor, these kinds of activities are part of an educational approach that values not only academic development, but also autonomy, authentic relationships, and learning through direct experience. And sometimes, the most important lessons are not learned in a classroom, but in a forest, with muddy hands and dad by your side.
If you would like to experience moments like these together with your children, we invite you to join a special event organised at Avenor on 16 May, between 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM. At “Hello, Summer!” we will play together and explore a variety of activities that will bring thoughts of summer and adventure to life. Register here!
