Yesterday I relished the “balmy” temperatures of 1 C (33.8 F). The extended forecast looks pretty darn cold so I decided take full advantage of a mild winter day.
After a couple hours of homeschooling, the girls and I ate lunch, I threw them into their snowsuits, and put them in the yard. Suddenly my home was quiet. The two girls who are normally bickering over a toy or squealing as they chase each other through the house, were outside. I opened my kitchen window so I could easily keep an eye on them while I cleaned up our mess from lunch and baked treats for the week.
It was a marvelous time… for them and for me.
I remember when I worked in childcare my colleagues and I would discuss how children’s behaviours would shift once they got outside. Fighting turned into camaraderie and listlessness transformed into industriousness.
I remember countless professional dialogues about outdoor “forest” schools… how some childcare programs in the world exist almost entirely outdoors. Check out an example of such child care arrangements at Beyond The Walls Outdoor Nursery HERE. If you look at the pictures of the outdoor childcare program, you see children learning, exploring, exercising, reading, and playing. There is an absence of fabricated toys and nature has become the focal point of play.
There are so many benefits from being outside. As I watched my girls I marveled at how they built with the snow, they drew with sidewalk chalk, they created “currency” from pebbles they had dug up from the garden, they explored thawing dirt, and they watched birds in the trees above their heads.
I regret that in the midst of winter I tend to forget about the value of outdoor play. However, after observing my daughters yesterday, I am reminded that getting outside is just as critical to their development as eating and interacting with others. It took a mild day for me to have this realization but I hope that I can maintain a commitment to outdoor play even when it’s -20 C (-4 F).
Do you send your kids out daily… even when it’s cold outside?
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I absolutely love the idea of outdoor schools! I think kids should be outside so much more than they usually are. I know myself how much I get inspired and invigorated by being outside, so it has to be the same if not more for kids. There is so much to see and to learn about in the great outdoors!
Oh my goodness…I so agree with you. And I share the conviction that we make far too little outdoors time, especially in the winter. Here’s to “getting out in it” more!
Hi Jennifer! My kids were both telling me this week about how they loved playing in the snow. I’d take them to a little hill in our town to sled, or they’d make snow forts and tunnel in the drifts. So much fun! You hear it a lot, but I do think sometimes our children are so over-scheduled, there’s precious little time to just have free play outside.
I’m glad it was a refreshing time for you too! Moms need love too, and sometimes love is a break from the kids :)
Great to see you!
Ceil
I haven’t heard of forest schools before, it would be a perfect place for Dylan. Whenever he’s increasingly fussy I opt to take him for a short walk, because he loves being outside. It instantly centers him. I’m so glad you were able to get some outdoor play because you are absolutely on the money when you say “getting outside is just as critical to their development as eating and interacting with others.”
We go outside daily too. This is the benefit of having animals to care for. We get up and go outside. It’s a great way to clear our head.
Yes, being outdoors is so important! I think too much of culture doesn’t allow that – for kids AND adults!
Hey, I think I’m with you on that. :) Make them enjoy every season.
YES! Being outdoors is so important for my kids and for me! Getting outside immediately cures the grumps in all of us. I try to make sure we get outside every single day. A baby makes it challenging because I don’t want her to be cold so sometimes I end up in the car with her while the kids run around at a park or we get outside while she naps. The older kids spend at least an hour outside every day, no problem. :)
Yes! In the winter, if my sons get a little testy after school, I ask if they have been outside for recess at school. Unfortunately, if all kids don’t have outdoor gear, none go outside. Yikes! They need to expend energy and breathe fresh, crisp air! Last night, we had a great snowball fight outside. My husband commented on the camaraderie my youngest son immediately had for his older brother.
I admit I don’t do too.much outdoors when the weather is bad as in cold with snow on the ground. As soon as it warms up though we are outdoor everyday. Madison is an outdoor baby and hates being cooped up in the house on a daily basis. We had great weather this week. She was even outside blowing bubbles. :)
EVERYDAY! They love it. I love it. :)
We have our girls play outside as much as possible. It DOES change the course of a day: a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively!