For kids, cabin fever can happen during any season. That’s why I encourage my kids to partake in as much outdoor play as possible–in all weather.
Without fail, every weekday afternoon approximately 15 minutes after my daughter gets off the bus, my kids start chasing each other around the house. Their game starts with good intentions; however, their laughter at a game of tag quickly becomes interspersed with petty squabbles. Soon, what started as a fun game ends in tears from at least one child.
I’ve tried ignoring the running, hoping they’ll stop. I’ve tried curbing it with a snack, postponing it by reading a story, or diverting their attention in other ways. But it’s no use. My daughter has excess energy to burn from being ‘on’ all day in school and my son is ready to play with his sister.
The last thing I want to do is plop them in front of a TV. Although I know this is a reliable way to get them to sit still, I want my daughter to have the freedom of uninterrupted play. Diverting her attention with TV basically renders both of my kids in a catatonic state. Both kids will beg for more and then get upset when I turn it off. Then it’s back to chasing each other and nagging. Which is part of childhood and being a sibling, I get that. BUT it’s also important to teach healthy ways to decompress from a day of being mentally active.
The one surefire activity that does curb the use of the house as a place to play tag is going outside.
As Erin K. Kenny says, “Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take the walls away.” I’ve found this to be spot-on accurate and oddly enough have noticed all their energy dissipating rather quickly when we get out into our wideopen yard.
It’s more than just shoving them out the door to get a little peace and quiet, though. I mean it CAN be that, don’t get me wrong. Sometimes it’s just nice to get them outside playing for my own sanity. But even deeper than that, it brings us all calm, peace, comfort, routine, and offers a change of scenery.
When I distill my reasons for getting my kids outside, I realize it’s more than just a break from the noise of playing indoors. It’s a way to show my kids one of my core values and teach them to care about something larger than one individual. It gives them room to run and time to play, while also instilling ownership of the land and seeing the outdoors as a way of life.
What about when the weather takes a turn and bright, sunshine days aren’t going to be around for a good while?
In the winter and early spring, it can be a challenge to continue to make outdoors a way of life. It takes work to wiggle squirmy toddler fingers into mittens and patience when the preschooler wants to get ready all by himself. And don’t even get me started on the extra time and attention our winter gear needs after playing in melting, somewhat muddy snow!
Those extra efforts we expend to get our kids out the door in all types of weather can pay off in spades in ways we might not even see for years to come. Not only are we, as parents, promoting their physical well-being but we are helping them develop a sense of resilience as they learn to make the best of what life hands them. We’re showing them that- sure, it might be a little uncomfortable but that there are things we can do to make it better.
It’s a life lesson in more ways than one when we embrace the rain by donning rain boots, popping up an umbrella and taking a walk in the rain.
Here’s the honest truth: I’d much rather stay inside snuggled up with a book and a hot cup of coffee and just watch the cruddy weather from my comfortable brown chair. But, as is true with much of my parenting experience, a combination of trying to keep my sanity and knowledge that it’s my role to set a good example propel me out the door. So I slide on my rain boots and prepare to splash in a few puddles alongside my kids. We’ll probably come back in with rosy cheeks and tingly toes but the sense of contentment we all feel is worth it.
How do you get your kids outside in all types of weather? Let us know in the comments!
