Get Outside
Little bodies and minds need fresh air and exercise whatever the season. Despite children’s resilience, spending a lot of time at home in 2020 and 2021 has been difficult for them. Spending time outdoors in natural environments can help to redress the balance.
Outdoor spaces can offer everything that children really need for their physical and mental wellbeing. Even better, we know that being outdoors as much as possible is still the recommended option for everyone at this time.
Get mindful - What better way to start the day than with some outdoor mindfulness? Mornings can be stressful times in a busy family with siblings going off to school and parents prepping for work. Slow things down and get outside as soon as you can to try these mindful exercises:
Walk slowly and carefully, listening to the scrunch of leaves on the ground or the soft squelch of mud. Encourage your child to listen to the sounds that their feet make on the grass, earth or pavement.
Stand still and close your eyes, tune in to the sounds of traffic, the whistle of the wind of the patter of raindrops. Are there any birds singing? If it is cold, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Focus on deep breathing for a minute or two and watch the vapour clouds that are formed as we exhale.
Focus on a particular tree, shrub, leaf or maybe a dew-encrusted cobweb. Look carefully, noting every detail.
Get muddy - Mud is great at any time of the year. Studies have shown that muddy play supports children’s healthy immune systems and is a mindful activity, as the focus is on the properties of the mud. Observe the mud carefully and focus on what it consists of. Children may be able to spot sand, small stones, fine roots or leaf mulch. Encourage older children to look for signs of life as even in the winter some plants will be emerging.
Get meteorological - Our ever-changing weather is one of the reasons why it is always a favourite topic of conversation amongst adults. “Will it rain later? Has there been a frost? Is there snow forecast?” These are all phrases that your children will hear. A study of the sky each day offers so many opportunities for learning. Look at the shape, colour and movement of the clouds and discuss what they signify. Discover the direction of the wind by making your own windsock or look for signs that the weather is changing. For example, the way that cows or sheep are said to lie down before it rains or some plants will close their leaves on a cold day. Being curious about the weather helps our children to connect to the natural world which, in turn, stimulates an awareness of their environment and their place in it.
