With the weather getting colder by the minute and the days getting shorter, parents and teachers have started to limit children’s playtime to remain tucked inside.
During a typical winter day, you might not want to send your kids outside to play, you’d rather they stayed inside, protected from the harsh winds. After all, there must be some iota of truth in the age-old wisdom that ‘cold makes children sick’! Well, today, I’m here to debunk this misconception and advise you to do otherwise this winter.
With the right kind of clothing to protect your kids from the wintry weather, you’ll realise that there are tons of benefits of playing outside during the winter.
- Your kid’s immune system will get a boost if he plays outside during the winter! Yes, you heard it right. Winter has earned a bad reputation for getting kids sick, although, one of the more prominent reasons for that is staying indoors or around sick people. Closed quarters provide little room for ventilation, hence germs are able to circulate easily, making children more vulnerable during the winters. I started sending my kids outside to play in the fresh, chilly air and noticed a visible difference in their health. They were able to fight off infections easily and their resistance to allergies improved considerably!
- Kids have a lot of pent-up energy that needs to be channelised in the right direction! If you restrict or limit playtime during the winters, that would mean increased screentime in the house. Children who have pent-up energy also tend to lash out in classrooms and get antsy more frequently! The only productive way of dealing with this is burning off that energy in the park. Playing outdoors ensures that your kids are working their key muscle groups while developing plenty of physical skills. Playing outdoors also reduces the chances of obesity and also helps kids improve their academic performance by increasing concentration.
- The cold weather opens up a world of learning opportunities for kids that in turn help with problem-solving and cognitive thinking. Kids are encouraged to gauge risks in playing areas, like a slippery slope caused by mist! I noticed my kids paying more attention to the wonders of nature when they were outdoors, as compared to inside the classroom. They even asked me about the rain cycle and at what temperature water turns into ice! I was truly amazed! They had a newfound appreciation for nature, that made me so proud.
- Playing outdoors for as little as 15 minutes can help kids stock up on Vitamin D, which is super important for increasing energy, boosting emotional mood, and sharpening memory. The window of opportunity for exposing our skin to the sun is little during the cold winter months! So, I use this time wisely and ensure that my kids are spending ample time in the sunlight.
As parents, it is our responsibility to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of our children. I have watched my kids transition from a bunch of sloths to being super-energetic during wintertime and it makes me super happy!
What are your views on playing outdoors during winter? Share your thoughts with me!
