Winter is worth it
Winter is probably not too many parents’ favorite season for outdoor play. The gloves, the hats, the scarves, the snow pants, the layers, the whining! We know! It probably takes longer for you to get everyone dressed in their layers than the time you actually spend in the open air. Am I right?
Winter brings its challenges, but it also brings special magical outdoor activities you can’t do any other time. We promise you that getting outside in the winter months is worth your time and effort! Read on to learn just some of the benefits of outdoor winter play. We just might turn you into a fan of winter after all!
Winter play enhances brain function
Did you know that increasingly complex movements enhance brain function? Children who are given ample time to play outside in any season will naturally progress in movement, all while boosting brain function.
Consider the movements associated with outdoor winter play beginning with the simple act of walking in snow or on ice (in thick/heavy boots and clothing, no less). Immediately, the brain is fired up! Legs must go higher, balance is tested. Throw in some other activities such as sledding, skiing, ice-skating, and and even throwing snowballs. You’ve got yourself a season that is filled with opportunities for children to challenge themselves in complex physical ways that benefit their brains and bodies.
Outdoor winter play enhances creativity
Winter brings all new possibilities for creative play, imagination and construction. Build a snow fort, snowmen, snow cakes, and more! You can paint the snow, eat the snow, and make angels in the snow. Snow and ice offer kids a never-ending supply of elements for creative little minds.
❝ Children who are given ample time to play outside in any season will naturally progress… ❞
Winter play enhances physical health and development
Fresh air does a body good, but so does movement. A good romp in the snow will get the lymphatic system moving, helping our bodies clear out unwanted toxins. Additionally, these outdoor winter play movements involve muscles that may not get as much use in other seasons. Trudgin through deep snow time and again does so much for a child’s physical development.
This season is also a time for advancing core strength. All of the balance work, keeping the body upright while sledding down a hill or slip-sliding across a frozen pond, engages the core. Shoveling helps in the exact same way and is considered “heavy work; that is, any type of activity that pushes or pulls against the body. Heavy work is crucial for developing body awareness.
And while this is great for your child’s physical health, there’s another perk of outdoor winter play you may not be aware of! All of this intense physical activity will inadvertently help your child in academia! Students who have a strong core don’t have to expend energy or constantly think about sitting at a desk. It is a well-known phenomenon that this is something many young people struggle with these days, to the point of even falling out of the chairs at school. There’s such a cross-over between all of these benefits!
It’s time to get outside, embrace winter and take in all the benefits it can bring!
Ginny is a Michigan homeschooling mother of five and the founder of 1000 Hours Outside. She is a thought-leader in the world of nature-based play and its benefits for children. Ginny has a Masters Degree in Education and is also a children’s book author and illustrator.
