Fiddleheads Urban Forest School in Portland, OR
  • Home
  • About
  • Online Learning
  • Blog
  • Enrollment
  • Home
  • About
  • Online Learning
  • Blog
  • Enrollment

Roots and Shoots Blog

Into the Winter

11/22/2020

0 Comments

 
As we get ready to launch into winter in our new pandemic world of education and child rearing, things are getting real. Winter in the north takes outdoor learning to a whole new level. We all know that playing outside is the safest way to be this year to see friends and family and to protect ourselves from the virus, so here are some guidelines from Fiddleheads on enjoying and making the most of outside time in winter.

Everyone, but especially children, can feel vulnerable in winter. And their instincts are right! They are. A cold child goes through a very predictable trajectory. They often don’t say that they are cold. They just get grumpy and then start to cry and want to go in, and as their distress progresses, they invariably cry for their mothers. It’s heartbreaking to see, (this is why we prevent getting cold and insist on such strict gearing up guidelines,) but the distress always disappears as soon as they get warm again. Even when we are warm though, winter in the north often means grey skies, rain, snow, wind, and early darkness. In the middle of the day the light can be slanted, muted, and it seems to never get bright. This is psychologically challenging, and affects our mood, our energy level, and our outlook on life and on the day. Winter is a time of challenges. Perhaps this year like no other before.

But because of this fact, it can also be a time of deep and transformative learning like no other. Enjoying ourselves outside, and learning to be comfortable and joyful outdoors during this dark and cold time of year is truly triumphant. It offers us enduring lessons of resilience and teaches us that we can have some control over our own response to adverse situations. These sure are good things to know.

Here are some tips for successful and happy family and school outdoor adventures for extended hours in winter:

  1. Wear ALL the gear. If you are used to hopping from the car to a 20 minute session on the playground and then back home again, you probably aren’t used to gearing up for prolonged exposure. Check out our gear guidelines below and refer to the following tips: Only allow the shedding of one layer at a time. If they still feel warm, they can take another layer off 5-10 minutes later. Teach children to put their gloves and mittens in their pockets when they take them off. Winter can be so fun and rewarding to experience, but we have to be warm and prepared. 
  2. Stay busy. Harsh weather and conditions can turn everyday activities into an adventure. Take a discovery hike. Have a treasure hunt. Go on a mission. In our experience, especially if there isn’t fresh snow and ice to play with, winter often requires some more direction than other seasons for children to stay busy, active and thus to be comfortable and engaged. 
  3. Eat and drink lots, especially treats. Cold temperatures and harsh weather conditions can really make things that we don’t usually do justifiable. Like eating cookies at school! Or having hot chocolate. Or fresh popcorn with lots of butter and salt. Our bodies can more quickly and efficiently process sugars and fat in the cold, and we need and crave them in the winter. Treats are extra satisfying outside in the winter. Have some treats and hot drinks outside every day and watch the happiness levels rise.
  4. Acknowledge the emotional impact of winter and cultivate traditions of joy. Winter makes us all, but particularly children, feel vulnerable. We can feel that and experience this viscerally in our bodies from the cold and the darkness. It’s ok to feel this way, and all the more triumphant when we can find happiness while feeling emotionally challenged. Light fires, burn candles, sing, decorate, make things beautiful and joyful!
  5. Embrace winter as your co-teacher/co-parent. This is really true for outdoor learning in every season, but winter demands it of us like no other. Scrap your plans if they aren’t working, and focus on being comfortable, happy and engaged with whatever the day brings. Winter shows us to let our bodies and hearts do the important learning for us. Just surviving and thriving in it is our best lesson of all!

Gear Guidelines:

As a reminder, we spend 3-4 hours, or more, outside every single day. This is prolonged exposure, which feels very different to our bodies than a quick 20 minute trip to the playground. If you don't generally spend prolonged periods of time outside in all weather, (and few of us do these days,) then please keep in mind that you may not be able to easily judge if your child has the appropriate clothes on, and so it would be best to pay extra close attention to and follow the guidelines below. 

This is what your child MUST arrive wearing or bringing to school if the forecast is in the 40s or below (which it likely will be soon and for the rest of the winter):

-A warm winter hat

-Gloves or mittens, preferably wool or wool blend. Your child should have two pairs of mittens or gloves to wear every day, in case one gets dirty or lost. Please consider investing in wool gloves or mittens, as this is the only material that stays warm when it is wet. I'm sorry that so many mittens and gloves disappear. It is the way of the world. You wouldn't believe how much time teachers spend trying to keep track of everyone's things. Clippable gloves or the good old fashioned stringed mittens that go through the inside of the parka can be helpful. We also coach children that if they are warm and want to take their gloves off they should put them in their pockets, which may be a good thing to encourage at home as well. Waterproof mittens and gloves are great if you can find any that are comfortable enough to wear. 

2 layers on the bottom if it's dry 
1. longjohns or leggings 
2. pants 

3 layers on the bottom if it's rainy or wet
1. longjohns or leggings 
2. pants 
3. rainpants or rain suit

3-4 layers on the top 
3 layers equals=
1.long sleeve shirt  
2. sweatshirt or sweater 
3. winter weight snow duty parka

4 layers equals=
1.long sleeves shirt  
2. sweatshirt or sweater 
3. fleece or light coat 
4. light parka

If it is raining a fully waterproof layer must be worn over the top of these other layers. It cannot replace the above layering, just add it on.

If it is dry and highs in the high 40s to 50s it is fine to wear sneakers or hiking boots with 1 pair of warm, heavy socks.

If it is wet and highs in the high 40s to 50s it is ok to wear rain boots with 1-2 pairs of warm, heavy socks.

If the highs are below the mid forties and dry, please wear insulated winter shoes and one pair of warm, heavy socks. You can also try wearing rainboots, one to two pairs of warm heavy socks, and fleece rainboot liners. LL Bean makes these in children sizes.

If the highs are below the mid forties and it is wet, please wear WATERPROOF, not water resistant, insulated winter shoes and one to two layers of warm, heavy socks. Here you can also try wearing rainboots, one to two pairs of warm heavy socks, and fleece rainboot liners. 

Once we get to highs in the low 40s and 30s, then switch to full snow gear, but please don't send snow gear for wet fall weather. It is heavy and most brands are not waterproof for rain.

Whew. Thanks for your attention and dedication to ensuring that your children are dressed appropriately so that they can fully appreciate and enjoy their outdoor school experience!

Here is an incomplete list of good gear brands, just to give some ideas for where to stock up if you need effective, durable items:
Recommended rain gear brands:
Oakiwear
Mountain Hardwear
Columbia
LL Bean
The North Face
Marmot
Gundren

Wool socks and mittens-
Smartwool
Bombas
Wooly
Fox River Double Ragg

Boots and rainboots-
Bogs
Kamiks
Sorel
LL Bean
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Location

CONTACT US

5830 SE Taylor Street
Portland, OR 97215


(207) 831-5655
​
BEANANDRHYS@GMAIL.COM


Find us online

    Subscribe Today!

Submit