Thinking outside of the box Thursdays: How does outdoor play change in the winter?
As we transition to the winter and colder months, I’m curious how outdoor play has been changing (or not) at your centre. What challenges do you face in the winter? What are some unique opportunities that the winter offers for outdoor play?
Keeping mittens on is a challenge. Even when dressed appropriately some children get cold quick but we work with it and make the most of our time outside. Snow is fascinating and there is so much opportunity for exploration. We make sure winter doesn't change our program but we try and adapt and introduce the children to all the exciting opportunities in winter.
ReplyDeleteYes, winter wear is often a challenge! Do you ever allow children to take off their hats, mittens, or coats briefly? Sometimes we will allow children to take their mittens off for up to a few minutes at a time to allow them to feel the snow and manipulate it or other tools in ways that they can't with mittens on. We keep an eye on their hands and ask them to check in with how they are feeling to know when to put them back on. Likewise, if a child has been running around and tells us that they are warm with their coat on, we will let them take it off for a few minutes, even in the winter.
Delete