3 Reasons Why Kids Should Play Outside in Winter

Why should kids Play Outside in Winter?

Winter is officially here but the cold weather doesn’t have to mean the end of outside playtime. As parents and guardians, it’s easy to get caught up worrying about exposure to cold weather, but there are plenty of benefits to allowing your little ones access to the great outdoors during this time. Let’s take a look at Why Kids Should Play Outside in Winter!

In Scandinavian preschools, you will find children playing outside at every opportunity. Even in the depths of Winter, children will be wrapped up in warm overalls and will spend the day exploring forests, climbing moss-clad boulders or wading in creeks up to their rain boots. With these forest schools promoting exclusive outdoor play and its benefits, why is it then that we are not following suit?

Colder Temperatures boosts appetite!

Here’s a benefit of allowing the kids to Play Outside in Winter that you might be interested in. As the temperatures drop quickly, our appetite increases. A recent study found that being active in a cool environment stimulates our sense of hunger. So be prepared when your child is ravished after that neighborhood snowball war or morning of sledding runs.

Explore new terrains and new challenges

The changing seasons bring a brand new landscape to explore and young children, in particular, will be mesmerised by the changes to their usual play spots. Taking the opportunity to get outside and explore fallen leaves, frosty grass and snow-covered fields will open up a whole new world for your little ones. It’s also a great learning experience as you explain how the seasons work. Why not collect some fallen leaves and pine cones on your winter adventures?

When the kids Play Outside in Winter they can create some winter-inspired crafts when you head home for hot chocolates! Although the thought of your little ones playing in the mud, snow or ice may fill you with dread, exposure to these new environments will allow them to develop their problem-solving skills as they learn how to combat new terrains.

A break from screentime!

In this world of screens that has been built up around our children, many kids are losing the true gift of childhood—imagination. Imagine how sad Fred Rogers or Dr. Seuss would be to witness the decline of the creative and imaginative child. But encouraging the kids to Play Outside in Winter can actually help get your child’s creative juices flowing. One research study found that the cold might actually encourage a type of creativity that the researchers refer to as “referential creativity.” The authors of the study suggest that low temperatures help us to overcome mental habits and think outside the box.

Keep up the exercise

It’s so tempting to spend cold winter days in front of the TV, but the colder months are a great excuse to try new forms of outdoor exercise. If you’re lucky enough to enjoy a snow day, why not take your little ones to Play Outside in Winter and enjoy some sledging or get them to use their muscles to climb up a snowy hill. Even building a snowman or having a snowball fight will keep them active which is key to their overall physical development.

Stay healthy and on the move

Ah, the dreaded winter cold! Probably the most surprising health benefit of outdoor play is that it is better for our health! So many of us automatically link the colder weather with bad colds and illnesses, however, it’s actually the increased exposure to germs and bacteria indoors that make it more likely to catch a cold. Long periods spent indoors in a poorly ventilated home can make the likelihood of a week full of tissues and red noses every greater, so getting out in the fresh air is a must. Staying indoors can also reduce the number of vitamins that we get when we’re playing outside.

Allowing the oppurtunity for kids to Play Outside in Winter is great for developing their immune system!

Vitamin D plays a significant role in your little ones physical and mental development. The easiest way to get vitamin D is through sun exposure, even if the weather isn’t necessarily warm. But this isn’t restricted to Summer! While the kids Play Outside in Winter they will still reap the benefits of sun exposure. Wrap up warm and incorporate a brisk winter walk into your daily routine to get the most out of the season.

Ride on toys are a great way to encourage the kids to play outside in Winter – read our blog post on how to safely store ride on cars in Winter!

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Want to learn more? Visit out website: www.outsideplay.co.uk