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Early Learning Blog

Teacher reading a picture book to families in an ECFE class
A family sledding down a hill in the winter
Why is it Important for Children to go Outside, Even When it’s Cold?

Written by ECFE Teacher Shanyn Hill

It can be tempting to hibernate in the winter, when the temperature drops and it seems like more work than it’s worth to get your child bundled up in enough snow gear to cover every inch of their skin. But research shows that it is worth the work!

Children are gaining an incredible amount of skills and knowledge that can’t be replicated indoors. In addition to increased opportunities for body/spatial awareness, full-body coordination, self-regulation, and reasonable risk-taking, the outdoors encourages scientific inquiry, which is how children were born to learn! The longer a child is outside, the more you will begin to see them explore and deepen their understanding of the world around them. Why is the big rock harder to pick up than the small rock? Why do the birds in the sky fly in the shape of the letter V? Why is the snow melted in the sun, but not in the shade?

In a short amount of time outdoors, children can gain new knowledge and experience in almost every indicator of progress for kindergarten readiness: mathematical thinking, physical development, approaches to learning and more. These opportunities for children to explore the dynamic natural world should continue to be prevalent throughout the winter months, or as often as you can safely do so, in order to keep children actively engaged in their own learning!

Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls. Erin Kenny

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Student Participating in Early Childhood Screening
About Early Childhood Screening

The early childhood years from birth to age 5 are a time of rapid growth and learning. Early Childhood Screening is a quick and simple check of your child's development and school readiness skills.

female child reading picture book while pointing with fingers
Mobile Reading

While many children love to curl up on the laps of their favorite reader, some don’t like to slow down long enough to enjoy a nice story. Reading gives children a chance to expand their vocabulary and hear about concepts that they may not normally encounter—and they don’t have to sit still to hear it!