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Too Much Time Indoors Will Impact Your Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In my own experience working with kids during all seasons (in chilly Minnesota of all places), I have witnessed first-hand how a child’s behavior can be affected by not enough outdoor play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
LESS THAN DESIRABLE BEHAVIORS THAT OCCUR FROM A LACK OF OUTDOOR PLAY:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Running in the house. <\/li>
- Wrestling <\/li>
- Hitting<\/li>
- Biting<\/li>
- Tattling<\/li>
- Toy-Throwing<\/li>
- Restlessness During Nap Time<\/li>
- Tantrums<\/li>
- An Increase in Conflict with Peers<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Sounds fun, doesn’t it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No. It’s downright awful. <\/em>Winter can be a difficult time of year for child care providers. It can be even more difficult for providers who never take the kids outside to play when it’s cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cabin Fever and Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Providers have to work hard to fend off what is known as “Cabin Fever”. I love this explanation of cabin fever by Parents Choice<\/a>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without fresh air and opportunities for vigorous outdoor play, kids<\/strong> can get that cooped-up, bored, restless feeling we call “cabin fever<\/strong>.” Stuck indoors, too many children<\/strong> spend long hours watching television or playing video games, neither of which help them release excess energy or use their time creatively. <\/p> <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
![\"little](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_1508-800x1067.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIf I could share one piece of advice for running a successful child care business in the winter it would be: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
TAKE THE KIDS OUTSIDE EVERYDAY WHEN WEATHER GUIDELINES SUPPORT OUTDOOR PLAY.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Benefits of Playing Outside In Cold Weather<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are oodles of reasons to get the kids in your program outside every day as long as the conditions meet your county’s weather guidelines for outdoor play<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Health experts agree that cold weather play is beneficial for a child’s development.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"family](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/winter-walking-e1541546941626.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOutdoor play in the winter months allows kids to release the enormous amount of energy that is stored in their tiny bodies. Having an outlet for their energy allows them to have more control over their emotions and choices when they are back inside playing with their peers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Fix.com<\/a>, there are 5 ways kids benefit from playing outside in the winter months:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Seeing the Outdoors from a New Lens<\/li>
- Increases in Exercise and Using Different Muscles<\/li>
- Vitamin D Exposure<\/li>
- Breathing Fresh Air and Avoiding Germs<\/li>
- New Challenges and Problem Solving<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nReasons Providers Don’t Take the Kids Outside in the Winter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"group](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_1494-800x600.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nI think the real hang-up here is with the adults. As we, the adults get older we lose our flexibility, our spontaneity and our energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- ADULTS FORGET HOW FUN PLAYING IN THE SNOW CAN BE – <\/strong>As we get older, we forget how to play. Kids can think of a zillion things to do in the snow and get so distracted by their imagination (forts, snowballs, snow angels, king of the mountain) that they have little time to think about being cold. <\/li>
- KIDS ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE COLD TEMPS –<\/strong> Most kids are covered head to toe when they go out with only their little eyeballs peeking out. This keeps them warm and toasty; allowing them to last outside longer than the adults who are probably sporting a fluffy down coat but only accessorize with a cute knit hat and a pair of stretch gloves. <\/li>
- ADULTS DON’T MOVE AROUND AS MUCH AS KIDS<\/strong> – It’s no secret that if you move around you’ll stay warmer. Kids keep warm by running, crawling and trudging through the snow. By the time they come back inside, they have a decent layer of sweat under their gear. The adult typically stands still on the sidelines shivering while observing the kids at play; counting down the minutes until they can go back inside.<\/li>
- DRESSING A GROUP OF KIDS IN SNOW GEAR IS EXHAUSTING – <\/strong>Getting a group of infants, toddlers and preschoolers fully dressed in winter gear will leave you perspiring. Not to mention the moment when one little bundled-up-babe announces he\/she has to use the potty right before you go outside. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nChallenges to Winter Gear in Family Child Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are three main challenges to winter gear in family child care<\/strong> that can weigh heavily on the day to day duties of a child care provider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Collecting Winter Gear<\/strong><\/li>
- Managing the Gear<\/strong><\/li>
- Dressing the Kids<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n1. Collecting the Winter Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do you have a cold weather policy<\/strong>? Do you let parents know upfront what items they will need to provide for their child? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Many providers I have met with tend to get frustrated <\/strong>by the lack of gear provided by their clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s Why: <\/strong>A provider can’t offer a healthy outdoor experience for a child if the child doesn’t have the proper gear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be sure you are effective when communicating your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When communicating with your clients, be specific about the gear you need for each child.<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Most parents want to know their child is comfortable outside. Many parents don’t spend the same amount of time outside as a child care provider, so they may not be aware of what items are best. Help them be successful by communicating your exact <\/em>needs. Example<\/strong>: Instead of asking for ‘winter gear’ or ‘mittens’, request waterproof gloves<\/strong>. If your client sends a pair of thin stretch-glove mittens for the snowiest of days, kindly return them to the parents and ask them to bring in a pair of gloves or mittens that are water proof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Equip each family with a checklis<\/strong>t.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Who doesn’t love a good checklist? As cold weather creeps in, hand out a checklist to each family with your newsletter or calendar. I have made one for you! It’s a WINTER GEAR MENU<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. It explains why each items is necessary for happy outdoor play in the winter! Print it out on cute card stock and distribute to your clients or hang it like a poster in your entryway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"daycare](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Winter-Gear-Handout-for-Parents-min-1-800x1200.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nShare your winter gear knowledge with your clients<\/strong>.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
You probably have seen a lot of winter gear products come through your door. You know what works well and what doesn’t. Maybe you know the best winter boots for kids? Perhaps you know the best way to dress a baby in 20 degree weather? Parents love a good recommendation! Example<\/strong>: I always recommended these mittens<\/a><\/strong><\/span> to my clients. They are the absolute best when it comes to mittens staying ON and little wrists staying WARM. Plus they are waterproof. Oh! And they come in glove form too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Managing the Gear<\/strong><\/li>
- KIDS ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE COLD TEMPS –<\/strong> Most kids are covered head to toe when they go out with only their little eyeballs peeking out. This keeps them warm and toasty; allowing them to last outside longer than the adults who are probably sporting a fluffy down coat but only accessorize with a cute knit hat and a pair of stretch gloves. <\/li>
- ADULTS FORGET HOW FUN PLAYING IN THE SNOW CAN BE – <\/strong>As we get older, we forget how to play. Kids can think of a zillion things to do in the snow and get so distracted by their imagination (forts, snowballs, snow angels, king of the mountain) that they have little time to think about being cold. <\/li>
![\"\"\/](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B016CHYU00&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=theempoweredprovider.com-20\")
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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=theempoweredprovider.com-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00009RAX4\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"row](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/winter-gear-in-a-rowl.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"row](\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/winter-babies-in-a-row.jpg\")
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