Children Playing Outside in Any Weather
Getting your child to go out in freezing weather
Can your child get sick from this cold weather?
How do you feel about your child playing in the cold winter weather? Most parents fear of their children catching the flu or a cold, but these rumors are actually false. What gets children cold in the winter is the amount of time spent inside. While your child is sitting in a nice warm classroom, all of the air is trapped due to closed windows and germs are constantly circulating. These germs stuck in the classrooms are what get us sick.
Layers, Layers, Layers!
If you’re not buying that, there are still several positives to having children play in the cold aside from avoiding illness. It is still important to dress children in layers, as that keeps them warm as they play. However, once the child gets outside all those germs disperse. The air is so fresh outside that the child has space to breath in their own air. Also, it improves their immune system because they are avoiding those indoor germs for a parts of the day.
Creating a stronger child
Not only are children engaging in exercise, but a different type of exercise. Walking in snow uses different muscles than walking on the grass. Children are learning how to use these different motor skills as they walk through nature. Problem solving comes into play when they become more aware of how to deal with ice and avoid slipping. These problem solving skills builds resilience, children learn how to bounce back from these life challenging obstacles. Although parents may be protecting their children from the cold weather, they are also taking away problem solving skills, resilience, and a strong immune system.
Teaching children to play outside in the winter allows them to enjoy nature year round. Being in this new environment stimulates the imagination as children build different snowman, create snow angels, have snowball fights, and have sledding races. It opens up a whole new way to play outside. In addition, children still get their vitamin D with the sun exposure. The sun is strong no matter what season, which gives benefits to enduring the cold weather.
How can you take away the fear of the cold?
Now seeing all the benefits of taking your child out in the cold weather, how can you bring down the fear of going outside? There are a few steps to be taken when preparing for the cold. One important step is to ditch the jacket in the car. The car can get really toasty when driving around in the winter, so instead of keeping your child all bundled with jackets, glove, and mittens it is best to wait until it is time to go outside. This way it is a better adjustment in going into cold weather. Once you have reached the point of going outside, cover the child from head to toe. When children are young, they still have problems regulating temperature, so covering their ears, neck, and head is important to keep the body heat. Keeping the child moisturized during the winter months also helps them stay away from dry skin.
What is a safe temperature to play in?
I’m sure like most parents, you’re nervous about how long your child should be outside for when playing in those winter days. The best rule of thumb is to go by windchill, if it is above 32℉ it is safe for your child to play outside for awhile. However, if it 13℉-31℉ there should be 20-30 minute breaks of play outside. In weather below freezing you want to avoid frostbite, which is why breaks from the cold weather will keep frostbite away.
To learn more information, please visit:
https://home4/qerpaumy/public_html.fix.com/blog/keep-kids-playing-outdoors-in-winter/
https://home4/qerpaumy/public_html.ahealthiermichigan.org/2019/01/29/how-cold-is-too-cold-for-kids-to-play-outside/?q=/2014/01/28/how-cold-is-too-cold-for-kids-to-play-outside/
Kids Play Outside In (Almost) Any Weather. Retrieved from http://rainorshinemamma.com/five-reasons-why-i-let-my-kids-play-outside-in-almost-an
y-weather/
https://home4/qerpaumy/public_html.parents.com/baby/health/babys-first-winter-a-survival-guide/
