Hello Parents & Carers,
Welcome back and many blessings as we enter 2025 …
Last week at Oxford Road the toddlers had heaps of fun outside. They marvelled at the frost and crunchy wood chips on the ground. They were fascinated with the process of melting ice and frost with warm water and trying to split blocks of ice.
Last week at Harborne Road we took advantage of the cold, frosty, icy weather too and had lots of warm water play. The preschoolers also enjoyed mark making with chalk and listening to a cosy winter story with a cup of warm drinking chocolate.
The weather has been significantly cold and temperatures are dropping very low, it is imperative that all children have waterproofs, coats, gloves and hats, especially on Forest School days to ensure that they are safe and can enjoy their sessions outdoors.
There’s no such thing as bad weather … just bad clothing! Whilst it may seem counterintuitive to take children out in cold weather it is actually super important for their health, wellbeing and development with both short-term and long-term benefits for them as well as the whole family!
Here are some key benefits:
- Strengthening the immune system – exposure to natural elements and fresh air can help children’s immune systems adapt to temperature changes and build resilience against illnesses;
- Encouraging building their resilience, tolerance and emotional regulation – cold therapy can be beneficial for children, especially when they are trying to regulate big emotions;
- Improving physical health – physical activities like running, sledding, building snowmen, and climbing on snow can help children develop strength, endurance, coordination, and balance;
- Boosting vitamin D levels – vitamin D can help regulate mood, increase energy, and improve memory;
- Burning off energy – playing outdoors can help children burn off extra energy and stop them from getting antsy;
- Stimulating the brain – playing in the rain exposes children to sights, sounds, smells, and textures they would not otherwise experience.
Oxford Road: playing with ice, melting frost, balancing on small logs, warm water play.
Harborne Road: balancing on wooden planks, mark making, playing with warm water, storytime, looking at fungi and flowers.
