October 28, 2024October 28, 2024allegrochildcare

Outside Play

Outside blog post

Outdoor play is more than just fun for children; it’s crucial for healthy growth both physically and mentally and is natures classroom for greater learning

Here’s why outdoor play should be a daily priority for every child:

Boosting Physical Development: Climbing, running, and balancing help children develop strength, coordination, and motor skills. Open spaces encourage more vigorous activity, promoting better cardiovascular health and endurance. Studies show that children who play outside tend to develop stronger immune systems. Exposure to varying temperatures can enhance children’s ability to adapt, helping their immune systems respond to different conditions effectively. Additionally, playing outdoors in the winter means increased exposure to fresh air and, in the warmer months, the essential vitamin D boost from sunlight.
Encouraging Social Skills: Playgrounds and outdoor spaces are natural opportunities for children to engage with peers, collaborate, and learn important social skills. Games like tag or group exploration teach children about teamwork, empathy, and conflict resolution. Recently, after focusing on outside provocations, our educators have noticed “noticed a lot of collaborative work among children in the playground. Children who were baking brought their cakes to the party. Like a small community among children. We have noticed new connections building among children particularly in our classroom that those children who didn’t really play before, they have started playing with each other. Reconnecting from old peers, sharing spaces and taking turns.”
Inviting Creativity and Imagination: Nature is the open-ended playground and endless subjects for observation. From using sticks as “wands” to building forts from fallen branches, outdoor play fosters creative thinking and problem-solving.
Mental Health Benefits: Time spent outdoors is linked to reduced stress and improved mental health in children. Exposure to natural light (even when bundled up) also regulates mood and sleep cycles, helping children feel refreshed and attentive.
Promoting Independence and Risk Assessment: Outdoor play allows children to learn about boundaries and assess risks in a relatively safe environment. It helps build self-confidence and encourages independent decision-making.

Nova Scotian weather can often change and is unpredictable, which can require some preparation to make outside play enjoyable and safe all year round.

Here are some tips:

Dress for the Season: Dress in layers for all seasons. For winter add warm coats, gloves, scarves, and waterproof boots. For rainy days, a muddy buddy, splash-suit and boots can make all the difference.
Hydration and Nutrition: Keep them hydrated, and provide snacks to help keep their energy up while playing outside..
Know When to Take Breaks: On particularly cold days, limit outdoor play to shorter intervals with breaks indoors to warm up, and pay attention to weather advisories. At Allegro, we don’t outside when it’s -13 with the windchill or +30 with the humidex

At Allegro, we value fostering autonomy and independence in all parts of our day. Creating autonomy while dressing children is a valuable way to build their confidence, sense of responsibility, and decision-making skills. We believe in helping children develop an awareness of their own comfort and control over their body temperature when dressing for the outdoors.

These small, empowering steps can lead to greater independence and an understanding of self-care as they grow.

1. Offer Limited Choices

Give children two or three outfit options rather than the whole closet, making it easier for them to choose. For example, “Do you want to wear the red sweater or the blue one?”
As they get used to making choices, you can start giving them more options or let them pick the outfit while you guide them if needed.

2. Teach Them How to Layer and Dress for the Weather

Explain the three essential layers: a base layer (like thermal or moisture-wicking clothing), a middle layer (such as fleece for warmth), and an outer layer (like a waterproof jacket for wind or rain).
Remind them that it’s okay to take off a layer if they feel warm or put one on if they’re feeling chilly. Practicing this routine regularly can help them recognize their body’s needs.

3. Practice Together with Patience

Start small by teaching one step at a time, like putting on boots or pushing arms in, and gradually build up to bigger tasks like zipping up jackets.
Use “backwards chaining” – this means allowing the child to end with success. Ie: “I will start your zipper and now you can pull it up!”
Be patient , offer time and offer guidance without taking over. Children learn through repetition, and the more they practice, the more confident and skilled they’ll become.

4.Incorporate Visual Cues and Checklists

Use a checklist with pictures of each item of clothing to help them remember what to put on next. This works especially well for younger children.

Weather chart (2)Download

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