The Benefits of Playing Outdoors, Even in the Cold

It is a non-disputed fact that children who play outdoors regularly receive several benefits. Despite knowing this, it seems that when the cold weather rolls around, parents and caretakers start to view going outside as a hassle and not a priority. While it is true that getting the kids bundled up is about as convenient as dealing with the muddy, wet laundry that follows, it is also true that there are benefits that should not be overlooked. Playing outdoors during winter benefits physical and mental health, which are paramount to a person’s well-being. 

Immune Health

Playing outside in the cold air is actually better for a child’s health than staying away from the frigid weather. The flu and cold season are often connected with the cold weather months; however, it is not because of the cold but rather the lack of fresh air. Spending time indoors means spending time with dirt, germs, and bacteria being cycled again and again through a home or buildings heating system. Playing outside allows time for the body to take in fresh air. Kids are not breathing the same germs in the fresh air, and the chance of spreading or catching an infection is reduced.

Physical Development

Indoor entertainment often leads to sedentary activities like watching TV, spending time with technology, or even sitting and playing a board game. In the winter, these tend to be the go to activities for adults and kids alike. Just because it is cold does not mean the body no longer needs exercise. This is especially true in children still growing and developing large muscle groups that need to be worked. Getting outside regularly is one of the easiest and best ways to break up a sedentary lifestyle during the winter season. 

While outside, kids can run, jump, and get all the wiggles out, just like in the warmer parts of the year. In the winter, there are increased opportunities to work on and improve motor skills and large muscle functions. Activities like walking or running around become a bit more complicated when several layers of jackets, pants, and boots are worn. Due to this, a child has to reengage in learning skills like running or climbing while wearing heavier and thicker clothing. This helps improve balancing skills and body awareness. 

Depending on the weather, playing outside in the winter can also engage muscles with greater intensity. A great example is the activity of going sledding. The act of trudging through snow up a hill repeatedly is a more intense leg workout than just going for a walk. Similarly, activities like building with snow and shoveling engage the muscles in the arms and hands in ways not done with indoor play. The added intensity is great for developing muscles and helps make up for some of the extra time spent being less physically active when playing indoors. 

Creative play

Getting outside in winter is also a great way to engage the brain in creative thinking. Changes in nature allow kids to make new discoveries, engaging them in scientific inquiries like why can I see my breath, how do icicles form, why some snow sticks to the ground, and why sometimes it melts? The act of designing and building a snow fort engages engineering strategies. Creative expression can be observed in the way a snowman is designed and the found items used to decorate it. Games and activities that children ordinarily play will need to be adapted to fit the new environment. One example might be getting the baseball bat out, but instead of a baseball, it is a snowball that is being thrown. These types of opportunities engage children in imaginative problem-solving that will help develop the creative and critical thinking parts of the brain. 

Sunlight

One of the most helpful and important parts of a whole person’s health in any individual is the need for sunlight. This is especially true for children. Exposure to sunlight has several benefits. “The vitamin D the body produces when absorbing ultraviolet light from the sun can help with bone development, disease prevention, and a healthy nervous system. The same process also produces serotonin, a chemical that aids brain function and improves mood and happiness.” (Smith) 

For many people, time spent with a screen increases as the weather begins to limit other activities. Sunlight exposure helps against the negative effects of blue light emitted from electronic devices. This blue light can have adverse effects on a person’s circadian rhythm, which is the 24-hour cycle the body operates on. Blue light in devices at night mimics the blue light waves emitted from the sun and tricks the body’s circadian clock. This, in turn, can delay the body’s natural release of the melatonin hormones needed for sleep and disrupt sleep routines. This means it may become more difficult for children to go to sleep, stay asleep, and keep to a schedule, impacting general mood and behavior. However, when the body has an increased exposure to the blue light emitted from the sun as well as a healthy dose of the full spectrum of light, it creates a defense against the harms of evening blue light from screen time. This means that the more sunlight a child can get during the day, the better their brain can counteract the impact of blue light from screens in the evening. 

How to get outside safely

It can be difficult to find time to be outside in the winter due to extreme weather conditions, the limited hours of daylight, and the hassle of all of the wet boots, heavy coats, and multiple layers of clothes. However, there are ways to achieve time outside, even if limited. One idea may be to spend an extra 5 or 10 minutes on the school playground at pick up time in the evening. Taking a couple of short walks instead of one long one to avoid exposure to the cold may be another. If the weather is too harsh to be outside safely, consider opening the windows to let in that important sunlight. Remember to get involved with the play of the children you take outside. Running and moving along with them will not only keep you warm but can have a positive impact on relationship building as well. And like in any season, take advantage of those days when the weather is just a little nicer, and the sun shines a little brighter.