Indoor and outdoor playtime and games are one of the cornerstones of Early Years Foundations Stage learning. This is because younger children are not advanced enough in their development to retain formal learning, and they need to build up their social, emotional and communication skills to get there.

The winter weather can be a barrier to outside activity, but we shouldn’t let it. Let’s explore why year-round outdoor play is essential and discover some healthy, safe activities young children can do.

Don’t let a bit of rain or snow dampen their learning experience, read on to make their winter play the best…

Why should children play outside all year round?

The Department of Education agrees in the March 2021 Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage that playing indoors and out is essential for physical growth and that playing with a wide range of materials and settings supports expression and creativity. There are no mentions of limiting this to spring and summertime, so why would you?

Here are some ways further benefits of outdoor play:

• Vitamin D – This vitamin is not easy to come by in regular foodstuffs. Our bodies usually create it naturally by absorbing sunlight through our skin and then use it to support our immune systems, bones and muscles. Playing outside all year is a great way to keep your levels topped up.
• Consistency in learning – As children learn through play, making sure they do this year-round offers more consistency and less chance of learning loss. Plus, playground surfaces are designed to be safe no matter the weather, and the kit supports child development at all ages.
• Increase confidence and independence – The lack of intense supervision from adults and the wide-open spaces of school playgrounds allows them to be curious and more self-reliant. It offers freedom, independence, and the rewards they reap from their solo activity are hugely beneficial.
• Communication – another result of the reduced supervision in playgrounds is that children have to speak up for themselves and figure out how to communicate their wants, needs and opinions. These base skills will benefit them throughout their lives, but many children have missed out on this thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, encouraging them to play outside no matter the weather may help them bridge the gap.
• Mental health – we all know exercise can help boost our mental health and well-being as well as our physical health, and it’s the same with children. Playing outdoors in playgrounds or with their friends is a safe, easy way to get them to exercise.

Winter activities ideas for outdoor play 

While the darker nights and winter weather can reduce the regular activities a child may do outside, there are other outdoor play options.

For instance, they could head to the local park. These are usually open all year, so there are no restrictions other than the ones you put in place. So, make sure they’re wrapped up warm, with grippy gloves and shoes, and let them explore the equipment no matter the weather.

Another option is to set up a school greenhouse or garden - it’s less physical, but they are still learning new skills and absorbing that all-important vitamin D. Think of easy tasks and activities you can do together, like planting winter annuals or spring bulbs, and perhaps even growing something easy for maximum rewards, like herbs in your greenhouse or onions, broad beans or garlic outside for spring harvests.

Setting up a winter scavenger hunt is another good choice too. You can create a list of things to find on a walk around the school grounds, like robins, birds nest, pinecones, squirrels, specific tree leaves and more. This gives children the opportunity to get outside and experience the benefits as well as learn more about nature. 

 Top things to remember

Playing outside should always be fun and exciting, forcing it is only going to cause the children to feel negatively towards the activity, so make sure to keep it exciting, new and adventurous.

There’s also a chance they might catch a cold or have an accident, so make sure they have sufficient clothing and protective gear for the weather – think wellies, gloves, hats, etc. And encourage them to wash their hands when they come in from the outside to clear off any germs or bacteria.

Finally, make sure they’re well-fed. Keeping ourselves warm in winter can sometimes use more calories, add in the activity and play, and they may be running low on energy.

Outdoor play should be a year-round activity as it is hugely beneficial to a child’s growth, development and mental health, so get them out and about in different ways to make sure there’s no learning loss in the colder months.