The Importance of All Weather Play

Improving Independence & Resilience

Encouraging children to experience all types of weather, allows for opportunities to analyse a familiar environment under different conditions and make appropriate adjustments in how they play and dress. Of course, this requires gentle guidance from adults, especially at first, but the more that children are exposed to various weathers, the more likely they are to begin establishing pattern recognitions that keep them safe and comfortable.  

For example, in wet weather they may learn that certain terrains may be slippery and that they need to slow down a little to keep themselves from falling, in wind they could begin to realise that if they don't have gloves or a hat, they get cold and feel uncomfortable, and in warm weather they can identify that they may need to drink and rest more than usual.  

This all leads to a child becoming increasingly more confident, independent and resilient, as well as learning to trust in their own ability to make choices for themselves and be more aware of what their body needs. 

Activity ideas that promote independence and resilience: 

• Gardening – discover how different plants like different conditions and how important the sun and rain is for plants to grow.
• Make an obstacle course – adjust as appropriate for dry and wet weather. 
• Den building – can be done in all weathers, though most rewarding in wet or cold weather when you’re tucked up cosily in a shelter! Check out our kit for den building here.
   

Offering a Sensory Experience

There are many ways in which the weather stimulates our senses. We can hear the wind and rain or the crunch of snow and leaves under our feet, we can feel the rays of the sun, we can smell and taste the air on a crisp winter's day and everything feels different to the touch depending on the weather.  

Children benefit from experiencing different sensory inputs as it increases an understanding of the world around them. It also increases their awareness of their interoceptive (internal signals such as hunger, temperature, energy levels) and proprioceptive (bodily awareness of their own position and movement) states.  

Jumping in puddles and navigating the space around them under fluctuating circumstances is a child practicing gross motor skills. 

Chatting about the weather and the seasonal changes through the year or playing games like eye spy contributes to communicational development and an increase in social skills.  

Using problem solving skills whilst interacting with natural materials that may react in different ways depending on whether they're wet or dry or if it's windy, strengthens cognitive development.  

Activities that provide sensory feedback and experiences: 

• Scavenger hunts – you will find different things depending on the weather, for example you may find more fallen leaves or pinecones in windy weather, whilst finding more molluscs and worms in the rain.
• Wildlife observations - watch the movement of birds in different weather conditions as well as what insects and amphibians appear when you look closely.  
• Collect natural resources to create a Mandala.  
• Campfire cooking – in cold weather, the best thing to do is to light the fire and get something delicious and warm cooking. An excellent way to teach children about fire safety and encourage them to try new foods, check out our blog for some campfire recipe ideas.
   

Promoting Health and Wellbeing 

Children's wellbeing improves from being in the fresh air no matter the weather, it helps to improve their quality of sleep as well as strengthening their immune system. They can have an increase in emotional regulation as well as self-affirming decision-making skills, both of which result in a happier, more autonomous child.

The circadian rhythm relies on both physical activity and being able to identify when it is light and dark to keep itself in the optimal cycle. Providing children with access to the outdoors each day can improve the likelihood of a healthy sleep pattern due to it fostering a stronger link to that innate pattern. 

Vitamin D is a vital component that keeps us healthy, and we absorb this from being exposed to the sun. It doesn't need to be sunshine and cloudless skies for us to absorb Vitamin D; any exposure to the outdoors and natural light during the day will allow our body to access this nutrient.

Being outside also exposes us to important microbes that provide information to our immune system to train it to react appropriately and proportionally to different bacteria, which strengthens the immune system and can reduce the likelihood of minor illnesses such as cold and stomach upsets. This is especially true of children, where the immune system is still learning and strengthening.  

Physical activity improves both mental and physical health, and children have an in-built way of creating fun and unique ways of being active; they just need us to provide them with the space and time to do so!

Further educational activity ideas for all weather play:

• Measuring rainfall (Numeracy)
• Mark making with fingers and sticks in sand and mud (Literacy)  
• Making bug hotels (Creativity, Science)
• Snow angels and snowmen (Gross motor skills, Creativity)
• Kite flying (Physical development, problem solving)
• Movement of water with tubes, guttering and propellors (Science)  
• Shadow tag (Physical development)
• Timing how long it takes for a water droplet to drip down a surface or window (Numeracy)
• Create pinwheels (Creative, Science) 
  

We also stock a lovely book called In All Weathers by Sam Goddard, which is packed full of activity ideas to inspire your outdoor learning, whatever the weather or space you have available!

Get Kitted out for Adventure

Having the right clothing and weather protection greatly affects children's (and your own!) ability to enjoy outdoor play and learning in less favourable weather conditions.
We stock a range of tried and tested high quality waterproof clothing for children and adults, featuring both unlined and fleece lined dungarees, coats, trousers and all in ones! We even have waterproof dungarees for adults, and offer discounts to schools and nurseries buying bulk sets for groups. Take a look at the full range here.

Come and say hello over on social media. We love to see what you're getting up to!
Find us on Facebook (Outdoor Learning Resources) or Instagram (@outdoorlearningresources).
You can also sign up to our mailing list for more ideas and info straight to your inbox here.