Take Advantage of the Weather... No Matter How Bad

Zarlacht Atiqzoy
February 9, 2011

The winter months are forging strong, whether we are under several feet of snow or blinded by sunny skies and minty breezes. Inclement weather is simply... unpredictable. But the adventures that our children seek are not, and that is why parents and preschoolers should take advantage of the weather everyday for a few hours or a few minutes -- whatever the forecast may be. In addition to the many benefits that come with outdoor play, including fresh air, exercise, and family time, children will also have a sense of appreciation for their environment and Mother Nature. Besides, it beats watching our kids with their noses pressed against the window, simply wondering.

Expand that wonder, and head outdoors today by first dressing in layers. Most often I tend to overstock the kids with jackets and scarves, because the transition from home to outside drastically drops in temperature. Layers the children can peel off after adapting to the climate (without being completely nude) helps extend everyone's playtime comfortably.

So now what? Here are some fun ideas for activities to do with the children in any kind of weather:

Play "I Spy" while walking around the block, to the playground, or to the bus stop, and ask the kids to see if they can see what you do -- interesting stationary objects like a gnome in someone's front yard, a street sign that begins with the the letter T, or a parked red car; or lively moving ones, like a bird in a tree's nest, a yellow umbrella someone is carrying or a baby stroller zipping by. Take turns with the children. Are they "spying" things closer to the ground? Far away? Up in the sky?

Make up stories, MadLib style. While watching people passing by, or squirrels quarreling around a tree, start by setting up the plot and have the children help fill in the blanks such as, "The little brown squirrel lost his (blank) and his best friend (blank) is helping. But oh look, there's a (blank) eyeing the squirrels and is ready to (blank)" and so on...

Use your bodies. That's right... Our bodies alone can provide endless sensory experiences with the great outdoors, like the soft (or hard) pitter patter of rain drops, the dry taste of snowflakes that melt in our mouths, and the sound of leaves crunching or puddles splashing under our feet.

Strike a pose, and outline the children's shadows with sidewalk chalk for a fun look at their bodies' shape. And speaking of shapes, how many can they make using their hands or with each other (or you)? Like the letters L or T or S. Snap photos if you can for their alphabet books or alphabet learning.

All the play and fun outdoors can also be journaled afterwards at home. With your help, ask the children to draw or write what they observed or stories they created including pictures you've captured. Press any leaves or flowers they've collected and label the discovery. Journaling is a great way to remember the outdoor fun while they are indoors... with a hot cup of cocoa, of course.