Brrr… It’s Cold Out There!
As the frosty bite of winter surrounds us, it can be difficult to summon up the desire to venture outside. However, even cold temps shouldn’t dissuade us from getting out and grabbing some Vitamin D, even if it’s just for a short time! There are ways for all ages and ability levels to be able to enjoy the outdoors. Here are some tips for those who may need an extra nudge to get out and enjoy mother nature during the colder months.
1. Bundle Up!
Dressing appropriately for the weather may seem obvious, but it is something that is often forgotten about, and it is SO important. You’re not going to have as much fun if you’re miserable and cold! You don’t need winter weather gear to stay warm, you just need to use a bit of creativity! Try layering your clothes over one another to create an insulated barrier to the cold. For my kids, we would always start with a layer of pajamas, followed by a layer of athletic or stretchy clothes, and finish off with a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Due to the inevitable issue of lost mittens, we often used our pile of mismatched socks to keep little fingers warm. We also doubled or tripled up socks on their feet! And don’t forget to pile the layers onto yourself, too! By taking these extra steps, we found that it was much easier to enjoy ourselves in frigid temps.
2. Choose Novelty!
While it can be comforting to visit the same places time and again (and some of our children really thrive on predictability!), if you or your child is really resistant to being outside in the cold, consider choosing a new place and make it into an adventure! I often search on Google Maps for “hiking near me” or “walking trails near me”. I’ve found some incredible places just down the road that I never knew existed! After I find a hiking location of interest, I look it up on AllTrails to read reviews to determine if it will be a good fit for my family’s ability levels. What I really appreciate about this specific app is that you can filter trails by wheelchair accessibility. A few minutes of preparation and research can go a long way towards making the adventure a success! Personally, some of my favorite hiking trails have been the White Rocks Trail in Boiling Springs and Boyd Big Tree Preserve in Harrisburg. As far as walking paths go, Wildwood Park and The Capital Area Greenbelt, both located in Harrisburg, as well as the Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve in Mechanicsburg, are all great places to be able to get outside and connect with nature. All three of these walking paths are wheelchair and stroller friendly. Wherever you choose to go, be sure to to explore your surroundings and take the time to look for nature’s hidden surprises!
3. Make it a Game!
You don’t have to travel to find novelty, you can have an adventure right outside your door! Whether you choose to explore your yard or walk around the block, making it into a game will help you enjoy being outside. If you are trying to challenge yourself to get some outside time, try to intentionally focus on the things you see as you walk. Make a mental note of colors, types of plants, interesting shapes, etc. This will help ground you to the moment so you can really take it all in. If you’re walking with kids, you can turn that same focus into a game! “I Spy” is a great game to play while going for a walk. Another game I play with my kids is like I Spy, but it’s a bit more active for those with energy to burn. We call it “Get It, Got It, Good”. One person chooses a number and an item topic, this might be something like “three leaves”, or “three things that fell to the ground”. Then we count to three and race to grab whatever items we can find that match the number and topic. Whoever gets back to our starting point (or base) first, wins the round. Then the next person chooses the number and topic. It’s a great way to burn energy and stay warm!
4. Go on a Picture Walk!
My family loves taking pictures. When we take pictures and look at them afterwards, we often are surprised by the little details we missed when we originally viewed the scene. When we go on picture walks, I let the kids hold my phone (if age/ability appropriate) and take pictures of whatever they find interesting as we walk. Then when we get home, we warm up with hot cocoa and look through the pictures. It’s really fun to see the world through a child’s eyes! When I go out on walks alone, I still tend to take pictures. Taking pictures encourages me to study the world around me and focus on some of the smaller details this world has to offer. I love returning to the photos later to recapture the feeling of the moment.
These tips are just a few examples of ways to make going outside in the cold a bit more enjoyable. We would love to hear from you on ways you have found to entice yourself or your children to get outside! Please comment below and share this post so others can join in on the conversation. If you would like to visit any of the hiking trails or walking paths that were mentioned above, click on their names and it will lead you to a website to learn more about the location. We hope you find a way to enjoy some time outside over the next couple of chilly months!
-FSS Staffer
