There’s no denying that during the winter months, it’s significantly more difficult to incorporate outdoor play into your children’s daily routines. There are lots of factors at play here, but it mostly comes down to the days being shorter, the forecast usually predicting rain, and, of course, the cold temperatures!
However, outdoor play is incredibly important for our children. It’s no secret that the great outdoors is the perfect remedy for those suffering from a low mood, or struggling with a bad mental health day. The fact of the matter is that getting active outdoors is vital for children’s mental and physical health, so even during the winter months, it should be encouraged.
If you’re looking for ways to incorporate outdoor play into your family’s routine during winter, here are some great ways for you to all spend more time outside.
Outdoor Play Equipment
The fastest way to encourage more outdoor play is to provide equipment for your children to play on. Installing equipment such as climbing frames, slides, and treehouses in your own garden gives your children access to them whenever they want to play. Good quality equipment will survive the wind and the rain that winter brings, so even if it’s wet outside, you know your children will still be able to play on safe, sturdy equipment. If you’re worried about dark evenings – because we all know it can get dark as early as 4pm – installing solar lights in your garden is a brilliant and aesthetically pleasing way of lighting the play area for your children.
Head Out On Some “Midnight” Walks
Nighttime walks are a really fun way to get the children outside during winter. Of course, you don’t need to wait until midnight, just until it’s dark enough for your children to be able to wield their torches around. It’s a real thrill to be outside when it’s dark, and walking through the woods or a safe environment is really exciting for children. If that sounds a bit too daunting, try going to the park as it starts to get dark. Make sure there are street lamps around and the rules have been made clear to your children to avoid any safety concerns.
There’s No Such Thing As ‘Bad’ Weather
So it’s raining. You’re looking out at the water splashing on the pavement, creating puddles in all the uneven nooks and crannies. I think it’s time for wellies and raincoats! I believe that there’s no such thing as ‘bad’ weather. Rain is the perfect weather for puddle jumping, muddy woodland walks, feeding the ducks, and running around empty parks. We like to take advantage of the fact that other families seem to see the rain as ‘bad’ weather and avoid it. Thanks to them, we get woodland trails to ourselves, empty parks, and all the puddles in the world to jump in. Yep, dancing and running around in the rain can be a really fun way of passing a couple of hours outdoors.
These are just a few ways to fit outdoor play into your routine during the winter.
Rainy days and cold weather doesn’t mean that you can’t still get outside and enjoy nature as a family. In fact, the winter months are the perfect time to explore new places such as mountain bike trails, nature reserves, and outdoor parks. During the winter, all these places are less busy than usual, so you can really take advantage of the facilities. Make sure that before you start stomping around outside and jumping in muddy puddles, you have appropriate clothing on. Always take your wellie and waterproofs with you, and don’t forget your hats and gloves!