Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: cold snap, cold weather, Nature study, weather wear

This topic has 33 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 3 months ago by Amber.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 34 total)

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January 23, 2013 at 2:55 pm
dmccall3
Participant
For all of you in cold areas of the world who take your kids outside in the winter, do you have guidelines for yourself or ways to keep yourselves safe and comfortable? Do you only go out above a certain temperature? Dress in layers? Take certain things out with you? Have a “focus” to nature study that is particular to winter? Anything else?
Thanks!
Dana
January 23, 2013 at 3:36 pm
pianogirl363
Participant
Dana,
On my blog yesterday, I wrote a post about the different things to study in nature in the winter. Perhaps the ideas would be helpful to get you started?
http://wheremytreasureis.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/the-glory-of-god-in-winter/
~Anna
January 23, 2013 at 4:18 pm
suzukimom
Participant
Yes, we have limits. It has been around -30C with a windchil hitting around -35C (for reference -40C=-40F) and I am not letting my kids play outside. I might let them out for a short time time with windchill around -30C and they can go out and play for quite a while with windchill around -25C.
We do layers. Snow Pants, neck warmers, the whole bit.
January 23, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Canoearoo
Participant
we go outside no matter what. Here are the rules (this is for age 4 and up): Winter Rules:
60+ no jacket
50+Jacket no Hat
40+Jacket and hat, mittens and boots if there is snow
30+ Jacket and hat with mittens and boots if there is snow
20+Jacket and hat, mittens and boots, balaclava if there is a strong wind
10+ Jacket hat mittens boots balaclava
0+ Jacket hat mittens boots balaclava and a scarf if there is wind
-10+ Jacket hat mittens boots balaclava scarf and ski goggle if there is a strong wind
-20+ Jacket hat mittens boots balaclava scarf and goggles. Only go out max of 30 mintues
-30+ Jacket hat mittens boots balaclava scarf and goggles only go out max of 12-15 minutes
January 23, 2013 at 5:01 pm
chocodog
Participant
Have you ever seen the city in Alaska that they wear shorts in winter???? They say to climate your body to the cold and you will be fine. I don’t think they go away from their home unprepared though.
I had to laugh last week when I noticed all of my children jumping on the trampoline. They had their coats on but no socks or boots. I was wondering how long they would go before coming in. They were fine and came in when they got cold. It was probably in the 30’s then and sunny. No frost bite and I was surprised they would want to take off their socks and shoes???? Don’t ask me why because I wouldn’t but I know from skiing that I could handle colder weather because I was in it more often then other people.
I do agree with Canoearoo- That is great advise and I love your rule. I think I will copy that one and hang it up next to a thermometer. I might have to add socks to it though. 🙂
January 23, 2013 at 5:04 pm
dmccall3
Participant
This is why I didn’t tell y’all where I live or our current temps. I’m a southern girl (US) so a bit whimpy. Haha. 🙂
Thanks everyone!
Dana
January 23, 2013 at 5:42 pm
jmac17
Participant
I run a home daycare, and our agency standard is we have to go out if it’s warmer than -15C with the windchill. I don’t take the toddlers out if it’s colder than that, but the older kids can handle it if they are doing something active.
We all have coats, snowpants, boots, good waterproof mittens, hats, scarves, and wear layers underneath.
We don’t do a ton of nature study outdoors, because the toddlers don’t make it far from home. When they are ready to come in the house, we need to be able to go in right away, so we mostly stay in the yard. So we are focusing on indoor nature study. We watch the birds at the bird feeder. We observe and sketch our table top garden, which is just some root vegetables cuttings, suspended in water, which are now growing new leaves on the top. In December we got a thrill out of our Christmas cactus blooming for the first time in 3 years. We observed it every day to see the stages the flowers go through. We do the same for other plants in the house. A lipstick plant is fun for that. If I get organized, we may also started some mini terrariums in plastic bottles. we take occasional trail walks when it’s warm enough, and try to notice how things change through the seasons, although it’s too chilly to stop moving for long, so we don’t stop to sketch anything winter. Recording the weather and observing different clouds can also be done from the big picture window in the living room.
It takes creativity, but it can be done. Have fun with it!
Joanne
January 23, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Rebekahy
Participant
Dana – I know where you live and have to admit that I LAUGHED when I read your post, longing to have weather like yours! (Said the CA girl who currently lives in Nebraska – brrr!) My advice is to get a nice warm vest – I find that helps me A lot to keep the chill off even when it’s REALLY cold here – add a jacket and I’m good to go. Also a thin pair of gloves – who cares if it’s 50 and people look at you funny, if it helps you to get your kids outside. Also, I find my kids are much more tolerant of the cold than I am – so I’ll send them out on their own too.
January 23, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Canoearoo
Participant
Doh! I missed snow pants on my list. They are just assumed here in Mn lol. If there is snow there is snow pants. Other wise snow pants are for 30 or colder
January 23, 2013 at 6:58 pm
Canoearoo
Participant
oh and kids under 3 can not really feel cold in their hands and feet. So my list does not apply to them. That list is very different- same clothes but not out as long and under 0 they had to be wrapped in a blacket or sleeping bag (for ice fishing or just rideing in the car lol).
January 23, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Canoearoo
Participant
our state has a law that public schools must send kids outside for recess up to -10.
However I’m an outdoor nut (winter camping ice fishing and the rest) so I know my kids and what we can handle
January 23, 2013 at 7:18 pm
eawerner
Participant
Canoearoo’s list sounds a lot like what we do, we just don’t have a list for it. 🙂 We are in WI. It’s a balmy 15 degrees this afternoon so I’m just about to shove the kids outside for as long as they can handle it!
I layer their outdoor wear like nuts and prefer wool hats or baclavas, wool mittens and arm warmers, and wool socks! They get bundled for sure but when they come in the only thing cold are their noses. 🙂
January 23, 2013 at 10:08 pm
RobinP
Participant
Seems I read somewhere there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing. :). But I’m a southern girl, too.
January 23, 2013 at 10:09 pm
dmccall3
Participant
Heehee. I’m in NC and it was 45F on our afternoon outing to some waterfalls. We’re having a cold snap. Ahem. 🙂 Thanks to all! I’m feeling less wimpy! 🙂
January 23, 2013 at 10:14 pm
ServingwithJoy
Participant
-30!!!???? -30????? Holy MOLY! It is 70 degrees Farenheit here in Oklahoma today! I admire you ladies immensely…my children would for sure be inside if it was under 30F!!
Wow, I am a complete wuss and had no idea :).