Winter Nature Play, Tuesday, Jan 19th

Winter Nature Play

In this webinar we will explore the opportunities that winter has to offer while showcasing the importance of outdoor unstructured free play. Let us take advantage of what ‘mother nature’ has so generously provided; cold weather, snow and ice and learn how to keep children engaged, happy and warm. We will focus on the tools and loose parts that are needed to support big body play, problem solving and social skills during the winter months. Activities include repurposing Christmas trees, creating shelters, converting mud kitchens into snow and ice utopias, turning slippery surfaces into manageable learning experiences, and being creative with our playground’s snowy palette. Work with what you have and be amazed by the children’s engagement and smiling faces!

Learning Outcomes ü

• How to use your playground even when it is cold and covered in snow and ice.
• Learning to make outdoor winter curriculum comfortable. Learn how to dress for the cold and understand the Scandinavian saying, “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”
• Identifying opportunities for unstructured, child led, and sensory rich play for your children.
• Transforming attitudes regarding winter negativity. Problem-solving schedules and getting parent support needed to get outside is key to delivering curriculum outside especially when it’s cold