Why it’s important for children to play outside in Winter

During the winter months, the days get shorter, the temperature drops and the time we spend outside drops too. I get it. As a family, we love getting outside after the kids have got home from school and have completed their homework. However, during the winter months, it’s not as easy. It’s dark by 16 30 hrs and all everyone wants to do is to get cosy {preferably with a hot chocolate!}. Playtime indoors can also be limited!

However, I’m here to give you 5 reasons {which I’m sure you already know} why it’s still good to get the kids outside to play this winter. Whether it’s for a quick scoot up and down the street on their bikes, playing on the wooden climbing frames in the garden or going for a family walk. 

Wickey has a selection of amazing wooden climbing frames of all shapes and sizes. The versatility of these climbing frames are next to none and can be extended from just a climbing frame with having a swing set added on. Or maybe you’d prefer a sandpit or a slide – Wickey can do that too! 

Getting out whatever the weather is so important. A bit of wind isn’t going to hurt you and if it’s raining, something my Dad always used to say was “Sure, your skins waterproof!” and he’s not wrong. My gang just wear their raincoats and go outside to free themselves from the walls of our house. It just helps them clear their mind, run off any access energy they after sitting down in school and just generally having fun! My bunch love nothing more than having a bounce on the trampoline in the rain. The laughs from them and the joy on their faces is worth it. Besides, they can be wrapped up in a towel, put in front of the fire and handed a hot chocolate. 

Discovering nature in a new season

Winter can transform our surroundings. From lush green fields with splashes of colour where flowers have bloomed. To bare trees, crunchy leaves all over the ground and frost sprinkling the tops of fence posts. 

Casting our children into these new surroundings encourages them to enjoy and appreciate each season and see how different they can be. Also, spending time out in the cold helps our children build up resilience and that’s a handy adaptation to develop. 

Plain and simple – it’s good for them!

Physical activity is essential for our child’s health and well being. But you don’t need me to tell you that! But the best way to get physical is to get your coat, hat and gloves on and head outside. Getting outside is one of the best ways to get moving and as I said previously in this post, that could be going for a family walk, getting on your bike or simpling playing with friends. 

My kids love getting outside to play with friends and because it gets darker so much sooner during the Winter – I don’t mind them holding off doing their homework so they can play before having to come in when it gets dark. 

Letting them have that 60-90 mins to play after school is so, so important and that way they’ve had the physical activity they crave and they can settle down at home for the rest of the day. 

Snow is great for creative play

If you’re lucky enough to get snow – which here in Northern Ireland we rarely do! However, we forever live in hope. But if/when it does snow, it’s amazing to play outside with everything covered in a blanket of crisp, white snow. 

Whether they collaborate together as a team to build an epic snowman or make it a competition to see who can build the best one. They can see if they can build a snow fort {something I have always wanted to do!} or have a good old fashioned snow-ball fight. Which, let’s face it, a must-do when the snow hits! 

I can imagine if/when it snows this Winter {the kids have everything crossed that it will} that I’ll not be able to get them inside! But you can guarantee that I’ll have warm clothes and hot chocolates waiting for them when they do! 

Do you still get the kids outside during the winter months? Or do you hibernate? 

*This is a sponsored post