On a recent crisp March day, 60 children ages 4 to 11 were at Stony Creek Farm in Franklin, Tennessee, near Nashville, thanks to Serenata Wellness, a local nonprofit focused on community health. Children got off their devices and got into nature.
Stony Creek Farm’s Nature Explorers program partnered with Serenata Wellness to co-host this first-ever two-hour children’s wellness pop-up event aimed at appealing to school groups and families. Young participants were guided along a path through the forest, engaging in theatrical storytelling and simple game-based activities. They had fun in the sunshine and fresh air while also experiencing some imaginative play.
The children were immersed in hours of outdoor imaginative play based on Timbalaya’s story ‘The Return of the Dragonfly Whisperer’. Timbalaya is a UK-based children’s entertainment company dedicated to helping children develop their imaginations through innovative, exciting and creative play in nature. Serenata has a license in Middle Tennessee to offer a pop-up wellness experience for children based on this story.
According to Dr. Pam Kaufman, co-founder of Serenata Wellness, imaginative play is the key to children’s well-being. Dr. Kaufman points out that imaginative play helps children do more than just entertain themselves and their friends. He also helps develop critical thinking skills, follow simple instructions, expand language use and understanding, enhance social skills, and manage emotions.
This imaginative play experience by Timbalaya uses Georgina Parfitt’s book as its starting point. The young participants at Stoney Creek Farm enjoyed numerous opportunities to play games, write in a journal, and practice mindfulness in a natural environment bathed in artificial light, while enjoying the “Dragonflies.” I encountered “The Return of Whispers”. The children found themselves at the center of a fantasy country story. Her two teachers, Cori Williams and Gina Williams, guide children through a variety of individual and group play and adventures, allowing children to have fun creating their own stories together. did. Through it all, they discovered a sense of purpose and the belief that they could make a difference and, in some cases, “save the day!”
Cori and Gina Williams, teachers at Stoney Creek Farm’s Nature Explorers School who helped provide this experience, said: . It was easy to partner with Serenata Wellness to bring the Timbalaya event to our location. Our students enjoyed expanding their imaginations and exploring the forest as they watched the farm transform into the magical land of Timbalaya. There’s no better time than spring or summer to get your kids out into nature, the healthiest environment. For more information on how we can help your kids play, imagine, and discover through this new, low-cost pop-up outdoor event, please contact Serenata Wellness at www.serenatawellness.org.
