Winter Outdoor Time

[BrightEyes]

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 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!

[sunnydays]

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.

[monkeymama]

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.

[Inspired by Reggio]

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

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.

[BrightEyes]

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

I must have missed the "almost" part

[Inspired by Reggio]

I must have missed the "almost" part

No worries