Winter wear

It seems a bit absurd to talk about winter clothing, given this bizarre warm weather we've been having here in Oklahoma. It almost seems like we are skipping winter entirely. Even my wimpy California self is starting to miss it. But should it ever decide to reappear you can refer back to this post for some tips on dressing children appropriately for winter elements.

Nothing is quite as adorable as toddlers dressed up like Michalean Ompa Loompas trying to waddle through the door. But are you smothering them? How much is too much?

What should they wear?

• Inner layer of pants and shirt made of wicking (preferably non-cotton layer)
• Next layer of pants and shirt made of wool or synthetics
• Light outer coat
• Thin outer coat (bulk doesn't always equal warmth. Your child will be more comfortable if they have a coat they can play very actively in and that has fasteners that are easiest to take off. This layer will come off quickly in many situations.
• 2-3 layers of non-cotton socks
• Boots that are water and cold resistant- not rain boots!
• Mittens, hats that cover ears. 
• Scarves optional

Check here for a great video on how to dress kids for winter from the Canadian organization Active Kids Club

NOTE: As they run about, children's body temperatures will rise quickly. Most likely they will end up with less layers than you. Encourage them to take off layers as they run to avoid getting sweaty- which could make them cold.

Advice on reducing the expense of winter clothes:

• Choose function over style. All those extra designs etc. are cute but may add substantially to overall cost.
• For coldest conditions choose snow suits over snow pants because they are warmer overall and more able to be adjusted in size.
• Choose unisex colors (or remind your kids that colors are not gender specific) so they can be shared between kids.
• Choose items with drawstrings and adjustable straps so they will last over several seasons.
• Check consignment, thrift, and local and online resale companies.
• Use synthetic pajamas as a first layer.
• If snow boots are not available, plastic bags can be used for short time periods around rain boots, if the child is wearing extra socks, to keep moisture out. Check frequently to make sure child's toes are not becoming too cold.

Ensuring you have adequate warm clothes at your site:

• Consider including necessary clothing items in grant requests.
• Ask parents to donate old winter clothes
• Share a class set between other classrooms of the same grade ***(Note if you are sharing outer clothing layers between students make sure to take these steps to insure germs and lice are not spread...1) Wash all items in hot water cycle of 130 degrees F 2) Dry on hot cycle for 20 min OR put items in sealed plastic bags for two weeks. 1)
• Ask local businesses to sponsor mitten, hat, scarf, or boot trees over toy trees during the holidays

• If you have a parent who sews, consider enlisting them as part of a grant or PTA funding to make durable class set of clothes. 
• Instruct parents to send extra under layers in case kids get wet or sweaty.

 1 Kids Health. "Head Lice." Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/head_lice.html# on January 30, 2012.

Wiggly Winter Wonder: Educational Winter Outdoor Play

Your kids are climbing the walls. You are too.  They call it cabin fever, stir crazy. You're about to have a serious case of the winter wackies. But it's soooooo cold...what are some winter ways to take the learning outside?

First, focus on group activities

Cold weather may not be the ideal time for sitting still doing quiet solo activities in journals. You can always do the active stuff outside and then come back in for reflection. Focusing on group activities will build skills like teamwork, cooperation, and creativity while minimizing the time to think about whining or being cold. Group activities will also require involvement from you.  Likewise minimizing your ability to whine or lose feeling in your fingers. For starters you could...Build a life size model, host a winter Olympics, have a scavenger hunt.

Second, use big body movement

This is the best time for building those gross motor skills.  Get that blood flowing. Integrate the curricula with active play. Remember that most old fashioned running games can be easily be re-figured into a lesson. Freeze tag (pun intended) becomes an animal prey/ predator game, red rover (with safety adaptations) could demonstrate migration, and hide and seek can demonstrate adaptations.

Third, focus on dramatic play

What if that fort becomes a historical site? The kids become migrating animals, or physically re-enact the water and nutrient cycles. Perhaps you are able to enact the lifestyles of historic peoples that lived in your area or use snowballs as the ammo in part of a historical reenactment. Use your bird brains, your fox stealth, your smart asses (the donkey!) to figure out how animals survive and thrive in the winter.

Fourth, Use snow any way possible!

Weigh it, measure it, melt it, eat it! Count, add, subtract it. Create target games where the numbers are used in oral multiplication tables. Race on it with timed trials. Sled down it and calculate your velocity. Paint in it with food coloring. Build it.

What are some your most successful winter outdoor education lessons?

Let it snow, or embracing the beast!

To hear the weather forecasters around here talk, you would think snow portends the end of the world! How weary I am of talks of snowmageddon and this snow storm as "beast". Forecasters seem shocked and appalled at the children out in such "horrible" conditions. Shockingly many families are forced to spend more than 24 hours in the same vicinity. Many schools have been closed for four days with more foreclosures looming next week. Will we ever get back to the important things- like school? How can children possibly learn unless they are indoors seated in a chair doing what the teacher tells them to do?

Yesterday my son's school was possibly one of the only ones open in Norman. The high was 18 degrees. We arrived early for the pick up and all of the four year olds were gathered at the top of the hill impatiently waiting for their turns to slide down. Such anticipation, animation, exhilaration, and adoration for the world around them! And such wonderful teachers who have such admiration for children to allow them these essential experiences! As one teacher told me, she thinks not allowing kids to play in the snow is "absolutely cruel."

And yet I know many schools where students do not go outside if it is below 50 degrees. And in most public districts here in Oklahoma there are even policies forbidding kids from having recess if it is below 32 F degrees! This is unjust.

And while the issue is very valid that many students cannot afford to be dressed properly schools and childcare institutions can find creative ways around this problem. One of the easiest ways being building a collection of snow clothes donated from students who have outgrown them. With just a bit of oversight and commonsense there are many beautiful ways for students to enjoy snow play. This is one beast I think we should wholeheartedly embrace.

For some beautiful examples of children engaged in snow play in a climate much harsher then here check out some of my Frode Svane's photos from Norway.