message from martha

Ah! Winter in New England!

For those outside New England this phrase is so romantic! But for those of us who live in New England the romance wears away slowly as the temperatures dip into the single digits and the snow piles get higher and higher! However, for children winter continues to embody fun and endless surprises! The snow piles are huge mountains to climb, snowflakes contain infinite designs to study, and the single digit temperatures are merely an annoying limit to the fun!

Teachers at Knight Hall believe outdoor play is just as important, if not more important during the winter. For the children, each winter storm and change in weather transforms our playgrounds into a new landscape! There are new piles of snow to explore. The speed of the sledding track is at times breathtakingly fast and at others gentle and slow. The swings magically grow lower to the ground and the climbers become forts buried in the snow. We grown ups, on the other hand, think of the germ factor! A little fresh air goes a long way in cutting down the number of air-born illnesses we face. For all of us, 20-30 minutes of dressing is well worth even 15-20 minutes of outdoor play!

Children are typically happy outdoors in the winter, unless they are cold. After working with young children for 20 years, some of those years in the Teton Mountains of Wyoming where we received 600 inches of snow a year, one thing is crystal clear; to have fun children need to be warm!

Warmth requires good quality outdoor wear. I recommend first, good winter boots, with wool liners that can be removed, a pull string at the top to keep the snow out and a waterproof shell. Boots with Velcro fasters, fur lining and a cloth shell do not keep children’s feet warm. Typically more snow gets in than stays out. Good winter boots can be found at LL Bean, Lands End, and Stride Rite or locally at Rugged Bear. This is the time to think about next year’s boots. They tend to be much less expensive at the end of the season. You can’t skimp on boots! Cold feet will make your child miserable!!!

The next item is good, waterproof bib snow pants that fit well! Without the bib, backs and tummies get exposed as children twist and turn, and snow tends to slide down into the pants. Remember that feeling?! Next find a warm winter jacket that fits properly. Stay away from cute, cloth designs that don’t block the wind or repel water. The longer the jacket the better! I also love one-piece snowsuits. They are easy to put on, and if fitted properly, very warm! Last but not least, don’t forget goodwaterproof mittens and a hat that fit. Gloves are harder to get on and are not as warm. The best mittens I have seen are “L-Bows” (www.Lbow.com). They are high quality and fairly priced. Their nylon sleeve literally goes beyond a child’s elbow. Worn under a jacket, they keep the snow out and the mittens on! Crucial to outdoor play, a good hat should stay on since 50% of our body heat escapes from our heads. Warm head, warm child!

Good winter gear is an investment! Outdoor play all winter long provides a great return!!!!

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