This summer we went away on holiday to one of our favourite places - Anglesey in Wales. In true British fashion, it was miserable weather from the moment we arrived for a good few days!
But the weather can't stop us!
Despite the rain, we hit the beach and went barnacle hunting and blew bubbles. The following day we went for a long coastal walk in high winds! (With safe boundaries in place, just to clarify! )
Outdoor time is so important for mental health - both adult and children's...even in the less favourable weather!
Outdoor play in wet/windy/snowy conditions allows children the chance to build physical skills quicker - because the conditions make children work harder to maintain their balance therefore improving gross motor skills and coordination. 'Bad' weather also presents a totally new sensory experience for children playing outside, even if it's an area that they have played in lots of times before - when it's wet, it presents as totally new experience to explore.
Not only that, but by embracing the weather's that we see as negative and making the best of them, we are sending a subtle message to children that the best can always be made from what seems to be a bad situation.
We are teaching them to live in the moment and to see the positives in every day ...besides, bubbles blow best in the wind!
'You can't grow flowers without a little rain.'
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