Winter Outdoor Time

Just wondering how many of you make a daily trip outside in the winter months. I try to get outside at least 3 out of the 5 days with the little ones. However, with 5 children + my own two little ones...getting them all ready with snow pants, sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens, gloves, boots, etc...it takes me approx 20 - 30 min to get them all ready. By the time the last one is ready, the first and second one are complaining about being hot.:blink: Someone invaribly is missing some gear...proper boots, or mittens, etc. Then we get outside and most of the time they just stand around in the snow...walking around...will use the little snow shovels I got but then want to go inside after 15 min or so.

Why do I even bother?? They get more excercise inside when we turn on the music and we dance and shake around. Every other season we are out for hours at a time. Physcial outdoor time is very important...but I'm thinking of scrapping it to maybe 1 day a week, if the weather is cooperative and not too cold.

Parents don't seem to care...in fact...get the impression that most would rather their little ones don't go outside at all.

So my question is what do you all do? Do you do outdoor time every single day? I have to say I am sweating buckets by the time all 7 kids are ready and out the door only to have them all complain a few minutes later to get inside :rolleyes:

We go outside daily all year long unless it is colder than -10 in winter or there is a heat/smog advisory in affect that is dictating do not go outside at all for our area ... if I had my way my entire program would be outside whenever possible!

I also look at the 'dressing and undressing' that it entails as part of the self help learning program so do not mind the time it takes this time of year cause they are 'learning' while doing it and the gross motor skills of dressing are important ... it is an investment in giving the children time to master getting dressed and undressed themselves, fine motor skills, independence and confidence etc.

By 18 months most of my crew is able to get dressed almost independently with just needing help with zippers and tucking stuff in or over this time of year. I also help the children in stages so that no one is sitting dressed for long periods of time ... so everyone gets help with the snow pants on together, everyone gets coats on together, boots on together and finishing touches are last etc so that they are all basically dressed at the 'same time' or within minute of each other so no one is sitting fully dressed while others are 'undressed' so to speak ... the older quick to dress independently children are encouraged to help the younger ones with me to keep us all on track ... so it is a team exercise!

I :wub: being outside though which I think makes a huge difference to being motivate to see the benefit for myself and the children to make the effort winter dressing requires.

I'm with you! I HATE getting them all dressed to go outside. Someone always seems to be missing something and the littlest one just walks towards to the big drift of snow and falls face first into it.

However, like Reggio said... it is part of the learning process and the more we put on our outerwear the better they are at doing it themselves.

In the summer we live outside. Twice a day every day, the house doesn't get cleaned, the crafts don't get done, we just spend every waking moment out there. But I hate to be cold.

I think the snow is lots of fun for older ones. They build a snow fort or a snow man and they sled down the little hills, but the little ones don't know what to do.

I try to get them out a few days a week, but not if it's super cold.

I too go out most days ...... I feel the benefit of even being outside for 20-30 mins far surpasses running and dancing inside. The fresh air makes them eat and sleeP better. Plus as Reggio said it is a learning experience for the children .... They all have to learn to put their gear on by themselves as they will all be going off to school by 4 at the latest (here in Ontario) so they all need to learn how to master these skills. Most parents are too rushed or dont have the patience to allow the child the opportunity to learn. If we don't go outside all winter then next thing you know you have a 2.5 yr old child that can't even do the most basic thing like put on their own boots or flip their coat over their head. I have 5 dck and my own 3 yr old and he and my 3 yr old dcb can get dressed themselves and I help the 4 youngest and I do the same as Reggio and do all the pants then all the boots and thrn all the coats ect so everybody us all ready at the sane time..... Really only takes about 10 mins to dress them all. That being said I don't go out when it's below -10 because I have two infants that don't walk and one even refuses to crawl outside he just sits there and cries and it's truly not a fun time..... I'm hoping this really cold weather passes quickly so we can get outside .....
As for what to do with the kids ..... Get them making snow angels, or play follow the leader, shadow tag, make up a little obstacle course .... If your in a subdivision just go for a walk.

Other Mummy, you're so right on about taking 1/2 an hour to get all the children ready to go outside. I have 4 still in diapers so as I change them before going outside I put on their snowpants, then I go back and get all their coats on, then I go through them again with hats and mitts. That way the first one isn't cooked by the time the last one is ready. Can you try that?

We are outside every day as well except for lower than -10C in winter or higher than 35C with bad humidity in the summer. We even go outside in rainy days in spring and fall all dressed up in boots, raincoats and splashpants. The only thing that keeps us inside in those months is lightning.

We go out about the same 3 out of the 5 days. it gets real cold and windy in winnipeg most days it is -20 or lower so if the wind is still and the sun is out but -20 we may try for 1o to 15 mins or so. My families are fine with it. when summer hits we are out side a lot!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so jealous that you have 18 month olds getting ready on their own, Reggio! All of my children are only children, and even the 4 year old insists that her mother carry her to the car! None of them, except my granddaughter (who is almost 4) can get dressed at all! Of course, the 4 year old doesn't like to go outside, so if I ask her to try to dress herself, she just says no. The two-year old will at least sit still while I dress her, and I was thankful for that. I think I am the only one in their lives who even lets them walk in the yard, but since there are 3 of them, I can't carry them everywhere! This has got to be a first-time Mom thing, right? Once they have a second child, they realize that the older one can actually walk by the time they are 4, right???

I aim for 2-3 days with winter outside time. My crew has been ill for quite a while so we haven't been going. My dd loves outside as does the 5yr old but the 3yr old boy (my anxiety case) just stands there trying to make eye contact with me and when he does it's waterworks to come inside. The others are on the seasaw, slide, swings, bulding something etc....him nope.

Plus...my WARM winter coat doesnt close up anymore (baby bump is getting out of hand :laugh:) so the only option I have makes me ready to come inside after 10min! I'm not spending that much money on a maternity coat that I wont wear again after this season.

In the summer we live outdoors, come in for naps and back outside again. Fall & Spring it's daily outdoors time to either the park or backyard.

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Originally Posted by treeholm

I'm so jealous that you have 18 month olds getting ready on their own, Reggio! All of my children are only children, and even the 4 year old insists that her mother carry her to the car! None of them, except my granddaughter (who is almost 4) can get dressed at all! Of course, the 4 year old doesn't like to go outside, so if I ask her to try to dress herself, she just says no. The two-year old will at least sit still while I dress her, and I was thankful for that. I think I am the only one in their lives who even lets them walk in the yard, but since there are 3 of them, I can't carry them everywhere! This has got to be a first-time Mom thing, right? Once they have a second child, they realize that the older one can actually walk by the time they are 4, right???

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You're right Treeholm, 18 month olds can't be expected to dress themselves. At about 20 months of age I encourage the parents and children to start learning how to put their hats and boots on and and take them off. It takes months of practice for a child to learn to do things like this and the quicker they are independent the better for everyone but let's be reasonable. They are babies.

I commend all of you for having outddor time in the winter. I am very clear with parents that I dont do cold. My parents have not even supplied outdoor winter gear other that the coat they arrive in. I have no problem taking them out when they're a little older and can enjoy the snow. I spend hours upon hours outside in spring, summer and fall but winter is not my cup of tea. good for all of you who do brave the cold weather. :)

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Originally Posted by Momof4

You're right Treeholm, 18 month olds can't be expected to dress themselves. At about 20 months of age I encourage the parents and children to start learning how to put their hats and boots on and and take them off. It takes months of practice for a child to learn to do things like this and the quicker they are independent the better for everyone but let's be reasonable. They are babies.

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I must say, I totally agree with you Momof4. In my experience, as a nanny, working in centres and now with my own child, I have never had an 18mth old get themselves dressed! And trust me, I try!!!! lol They do a good job helping me at that age, but definitely not all on their own!

I try to get outside for at least 30 minutes per day even in winter, but this week we are stuck in because it is -24 today and has been like that most of the week! I hate getting them dressed too, but I feel it is worth it to get some fresh air and exercise. I do think the youngest get more exercise inside as they can't move well in their snowsuits and boots, but they still benefit greatly from the fresh air. I do like others have said and start with snowpants on everyone and then coats, etc so nobody is to hot and starts taking things off. I also ask parents to supply mittens on strings so that they are dangling from sleeves and those I slip on once we are in the garage on the way out. I have to go out to take my son to the bus anyway, so I figure once I have done all the work to get everyone ready and out, we might as well stay out for as long as weather permits. I have cleared an area in the back yard so the snow is no too deap for the babies and teh playhouse is accesible as is the slide. I have also made some climbing/slidin hills and provide lots of little shovels. I have a couple of sleds that I pile the babies onto and pull them around a track in the yard so they don't get bored while the older kids play. This week I am enjoying a break from getting htem dressed, but I do feel a bit couped up. I find some of the kids can start to dress themselves at 18 months (my daughter for example), but others are much slower, especially if parents haven't allowed or encouraged them to practice. I start by teaching them how to take things off and then work up to it from there starting with the easiest things like boots.

We walk my daughter to the bus stop every morning and then we have our outside time for atleast 30-45 minutes. I make it clear to parents that we are outside everyday, all year long. The fresh air is just as important to them as it is to me.

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Originally Posted by LittleFeet

....They do a good job helping me at that age, but definitely not all on their own!

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Just to clarify I said by 18 month they are dressing ALMOST independently ... it is not like I send them to the cloak area and expect them to get themselves dressed all by themselves while I am off doing something else :)

We always go outside proceeding a 'snack' so I have time to get all the children's belongings together while they eat snack so everything we need is there and at hand and if something is missing for some reason (which is rare) I can find extras for that child during snack time so we are already to rock and roll once we are finished ... this also gives me the opportunity to send anyone who I know needs more time than the 'average' child to get dressed first so they are not feeling rushed or stressed to keep up with everyone else.

I set them up in little areas in my foyer for dressing so they all have room to work at their layers without being in each others face or space to minimize stress ... by 18 months children who've been with me since infancy and have had at least 6 months of dressing practice in other areas and seasons such as diapering time and dramatic play which is why they are perfectly capable to sit down and find their 'feet' in their snow pants that are all laid out for them because we've played this game daily for months during diaper changes or dressing up in the drama centre so it is a 'game' to them. Once they find their feet than they can stand up and start to pull up their snowpants with some aid if stuck or to get arms through if they are strapped pants ~ so they are doing most of the work independently with support where needed which allows everyone to be getting dressed at the same time, they can use the flip flop over the top trick to get their coat as it is laid out for them and ready to go some kids just need a little prompting with the 'flip flop over the top' game cue to remember coat is next and to stay on track and than I can quick zip for everyone, their boots are placed by the wall with toes towards the wall and they are able to stand and wiggle wiggle squish squish their feet into their boots cause the wall holds the boot in place for them, most hats are easy to put on even for infants and than I help with mittens and ensuring that snowpants are pulled over boots .... these are all games we have played for months in other areas of the program so they have the preskills to do it and it goes quick and easy for us.

IMO dressing is a skill like anything else .... the more time, practice and resources children are given consistently in all environments than the quicker they can master it for sure we go outside twice a day all year long they have had LOTS of practice with dressing when they start here at 8-12 months or so and I keep my parents in the loop about what skills we are working on mastering so they can follow through at home ideally.

That said when I do not get them from infancy than results will vary for sure ... I had a almost 4 year old start my program in November who had LITTLE dressing skills because he was never given the time or practice or tools to master it ... but he is almost caught up to the other kids in the group now because I quickly talked to the parent about how he is capable he just needs to be set up to succeed and they started working with him at home using the tips and tools we use here like flip flop trick and so forth so he could have consistent practice ... so once he was being supported he quickly caught up due to the practice and time he was being given.

I have also had children heading off to school with developmental delays who needed way more 'coaching' to stay on task with dressing because they would get side tracked or lost if left truly to their own independent devices ... so the one had flip charts to remind him 'what is next' so he was not having to always rely on ME or a parent to tell him cause the teacher is not going to be able to walk him through step by step at recess and so forth but the flip book is something he could keep in a pocket and use and so forth other children just needed 'quieter' area to get dressed in to stay on task cause they were too social and would spend all their time chatting and not getting busy with the task at hand.

Again ~ works for me in my program ... everyone is different and has different expectations and experiences with their children as a result.

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Originally Posted by Inspired by Reggio

Just to clarify I said by 18 month they are dressing ALMOST independently ... it is not like I send them to the cloak area and expect them to get themselves dressed all by themselves while I am off doing something else :)

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I must have missed the "almost" part :p

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Originally Posted by LittleFeet

I must have missed the "almost" part :p

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No worries ;)