Cold Outside Learning

I've been thinking lately about our commitment to being outside, and sadly, it's something that makes our program unusual.  Many kids even at this age spend their time inside.  Many adults do, too.  In the cold winter months, I know adults who have to deliberately get themselves (and their kids) outside for some fresh air, because it's just too easy to stay in.  I'm grateful for a job that gets me that breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively) every day.

With the snow we've had lately, I've been overcome by the beauty of it, and I've realized I'm so grateful to be immersing myself in it.  The kids love to romp and play in the snow.  No matter how many times we tell them it may be quite dirty, they love to feast on the snow and ice.  They tell us, "It's delicious!" We smile, and are glad they are staying hydrated and learning to love being outside, even when the rest of the world says it's too cold.

We've had some real cold snaps, and have had to come up with a cold weather policy.  The public schools here say they won't take kids out if it's below zero, but when I looked into safe temperatures for young children to play in, most said more like 15-20 degrees was in the "green" zone.  We've decided to go in between those two measures, and let the kids go out (if they choose) when it's over 10 degrees. We are then careful about being attuned to their verbal cues, and sending them in if they are too cold.

Some may be surprised at how many kids chose to go out and stay out in the cold weather, especially in this beautiful snow.  It lifts the moods of kids and adults to breathe real air, to run and move and crawl and chase, to roll in the snow, and feel the sting of cold on our cheeks and noses.

We've missed you, Winter.  We're glad you're here!!