Kindergarten readiness is fun for all seasons and today that season is winter. Winter where your family lives might mean snow, or rain, or if you are very lucky, warm and sunny. Wherever you are, it is important for your child to have time in nature. Recently, research is showing us how critical this is for healthy development. To quote Richard Louv, “To take nature and natural play away from children may be tantamount to withholding oxygen.”
Outside play time today may certainly depend on the weather. Exploring and talking about the weather is one way to connect to nature. You and your child may be able to go for a walk outside and see some seasonal changes. Do the trees look the same? What’s happened to the leaves? There may be some birds lingering and looking for any left-over berries. If snow isn’t covering them all, there may be a few pine cones on the ground. As kids look around, besides building their awareness of nature, they are also practicing observing skills.
Playing in the snow is a highlight of winter and building a snowman is a special activity. Outside time is exercise for the whole body and the talking and listening is exercise for young minds. Who says snowmen can’t talk? Your child might be able to tell what the snowmen would like to say. Children sometimes do not like change. Noticing how nature can change and yet still be the same may be helpful and reassuring for them.
Will your child be able to have some nature learning and fun to celebrate the first day of winter?