Benefits of Outdoor Play in the Winter

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When it comes to winter weather many of us would rather stay inside where it is warm and dry than brave the cold ankle high wet snow outdoors. And don’t get me started on the process of getting children bundled up to go outside. Depending on the age of children in your care this process can be very time consuming. At my after-school program we require children to play outside for at least 30 minutes per day, weather permitting. This policy does not make everyone happy, and inevitably the question arises. “Why do we have to go outside?!”

I know that playing outside, even in winter is good for kids. But the real question is.. is outdoor physical activity in winter really better than indoor physical activity? I did some research and this is what I found.

The Short Answer

Playing outdoors, even in the winter, promotes gross motor skills and creativity. Building a snow fort, sledding down a hill or working with friends to rolling the biggest snowball in program history promotes physical wellness, and social skills like teamwork, problem solving and cooperation. Besides the physical and social benefits, outdoor play also promotes health and wellness. Outdoor play allows kids to “get fresh air.” It allows them to escape the germs and bacteria they have been passing back and forth with their friends for weeks. What this means is that kids are actually less likely to get sick if they get more fresh outdoor air! Being Outdoors can literally make us happier. Soaking up the rays can improve your mood and state of mind.

Happiness

If you live in a cold climate, you are probably familiar with the winter blues. We go to work in the morning in the dark and drive home eight hours later, in the dark. The lack of sunlight can a physically influence your body and mind. This is no different for kids. The reason this happens can be partially attributed to the lack of vitamin D which we get from the sun. This means the more sun we get the less likely we are to get those winter blues. Getting kids outdoors and into the sun can literally increase happiness.

Health

Outdoor physical play, as I briefly mentioned, can help keep kids healthy by getting them out of the building filled with germs. As hard as we try to keep the germs away by using disinfecting wipes, sanitizing toys, and insist on constant hand washing we can not get rid of all the germs and bacteria. But we can get the children out of a poorly ventilated indoor space and into the outdoors for some needed fresh air.

Exercise

When children have the freedom to roam, build, and explore outdoors in the winter they have many options for gross motor play. The major physical benefit of outdoor play versus indoor physical play, is that children jump, run, or skip with no limitations. Winter play in the snow presents even more chances for unique gross motor activities. For example, kids can climb up and sled down a hill, build a fort or roll a giant snowball. They can not reproduce these activities indoors. While I know that gym games are great and that kids love to run around without worrying about getting snow in their boots, gym time does not offer the same physical opportunities as outdoor play, even in the winter.

Love of the outdoors

When children play outdoors in winter, they experience the world differently than when the temperatures are warm and grass is green. Winter outdoor play offers kids a new medium for dramatic play and exploration. They can build a fort, explore snow mounds or scoot across ice spots. These different options for play allow kids to explore their world and develop a new appreciation for seasons and nature.

Encourage Development

Outdoor play encourages intellectual and social development. Weather children are on a scavenger hunt, playing ispy or developing a pretend game of “house”, being outside allows kids to use nature in cooperative play. In winter when the weather changes and snow falls, it offers children the opportunity to add a new dramatic element to outdoor play. A snow fort becomes a house, snow drift becomes a cave and a snow hill becomes a mountain. Children can literally build an imaginary world. This kind of play builds on social skills important to children’s development.

Outdoor Safety Tips

I have heard staff or teachers say they dislike taking kids outdoors in the winter because of safety concerns. Safety is of the utmost importance in childcare, let’s face it, it’s the most basic part of our job, to keep children safe. I have come up with a few tips to combat concerns for outdoor play in the winter.

First off, temperatures. If the wind chill is lower than 0 degrees, it is a state law in Wisconsin that we cannot take the children outside. When the windchill falls below zero the chance of frostbite and other cold related ailments increases. Check the temperature before bundling up the children to go outdoors.
Secondly, make sure everyone has appropriate clothing. At my program we require anyone who is going outdoors in the winter to wear at a minimum of a coat, a hat and mittens. If a child does not have one of these essential items, we have extra to lend out. If a child want to play in the snow, they will also require snow pants and boots.
- Note: Wash the outdoor clothing every time someone wears them! Limit the spread of illness!
Safety tip number three, make sure you set rules that appropriate for the children in your care. At my program, for example, you have to be eight to use the sleds. This rule exists because older children have proven they can use the equipment appropriately and with little guidance.
Finally, check for ice. When we get to days where the temperatures fluctuate around the freezing mark the potential for ice increases. Check blacktop for ice and salt when necessary. Also make sure sledding areas have not frozen over before children drag out the toboggan.

Now you know

As a childcare professional, teacher or parent it’s important to be in the know. So, the next time a kid says to you “It’s cold outside! Why do we have to play outside?” you can tell them that there any many benefits to outdoor play in the winter. Outdoor play keeps us happy (Vitamin D from the sun) and healthy (escaping the germs and bacteria of poorly ventilated buildings) The open air and space of the outdoors allows us to get as much physical exercise as we want. We can run, skip and jump limitlessly! We can develop social and intellectual skills by building, sharing and problem solving with friends.