In this rich, free-flowing episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma take a walk around the woods to explore the thorny and often misunderstood concept of procrastination. Is it really just wasting time, or is there something deeper at play? With links to executive function, emotional safety, and social learning, this conversation weaves through YouTube theories, Venn diagrams, rainy day dilemmas, and the complexities of child-led time choices. They unpack when to intervene and when to let things play out, how procrastination might look in a six-hour session vs a school visit, and how learners may value fantasy, process, or social cohesion over 'finishing' anything at all. With warmth and depth, this episode invites educators to rethink productivity, time, and what it means to truly let go of adult-led outcomes.
🎧 Chapter Timings:
00:00 – Procrastination and the emergency car kit
01:25 – Zeitgeist moments and why this topic matters now
03:44 – Long-term provision vs habitual delay
05:16 – Productive procrastination and percolation time
10:35 – Emotional consequences and soft deadlines
14:18 – The Fear Monster, the Instant Gratification Monkey, and learner autonomy
20:21 – Executive function and social play in the woods
29:50 – Time perception and how children manage their own timelines
34:40 – Peer-created deadlines, social play, and missed moments
49:59 – Procrastination or fantasy? Scaffolding big project thinking
🌲 Keywords: Forest School procrastination, executive function, time perception in play, cognitive flexibility, socio-dramatic play, play-based learning, scaffolding big ideas, natural consequences, long-term outdoor provision, learner autonomy
🔖 Hashtags:
#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #ExecutiveFunction #PlayBasedLearning #ChildLedLearning #ForestSchoolPodcast #SocialPlay #CognitiveFlexibility #LongTermProvision #ReflectivePractice #TimePerception #NatureBasedLearning #AutonomyInPlay #SoftDeadlines
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