Why Winter Outdoor Play for Toddlers Is Worth the Mess
Winter has a way of making us retreat indoors. The days feel shorter, the mess feels bigger, and screens start to feel like the easiest answer. But somewhere between the rain boots and the muddy cuffs, I realized that getting outside, even in winter, wasn’t something to avoid. It was something our kids needed.
Winter can be an opportunity to experience the great outdoors in a whole new way. This is all about how a pair of rainboots shifted my mindset from “I need to keep my kid clean and inside” to “Let’s get outside, rain or shine!”
Let’s Reframe Winter & Acknowledge Pressures
I am a summer girl, through and through. My friends and family know I would rather be sitting in the 90 degree sun than go anywhere near outdoors when it gets below 60 degrees. But Winter arrives whether we like it or not, and the best we can do is try to prepare. It can feel like a constant battle of cold, wet, and dark vs. stuffy cabin fever; There never seems to be an easy answer. Plus, the pressures we experience as parents to keep things clean while avoiding extra chores are enormous! But…
Winter doesn’t have to mean choosing hibernation.
As most kids do, my son showed a great deal of interest in puddle-jumping when we hit the rainy season. His green converse were soon soaked, as well as his pants, socks, and toes. My immediate thoughts were negative ones, about how his feet are probably freezing, I’m going to have to give him a shower and throw in an extra load of laundry, etc. But when he talked about his favorite parts of his day that evening, he talked about how much fun jumping in those puddles were. I realized I needed to change if I wanted to keep his adventurous spirit alive this winter.
Prepare for Adventure, Not Perfection
I asked my sister to get him a pair of rain boots for Christmas. She is an outdoorsy girl and needed ideas so this fit perfectly, and low-and-behold my son now has a pair of green rainboots sitting by the door. I wanted to take it a step further though, so I thrifted him a rain coat later that week.
So now, in full rain-battle gear, I gave him a few tools to aid in his adventure: a magnifying glass, a bucket, a good poking stick, etc. I kept these things separate from his regular toys so we could grab them easily, and lessen the damage of messes brought inside.
This wasn’t about getting top-of-the-line gear to ensure he could survive and explore negative forty degree weather, it was about setting myself up for the acceptance of: these clothes will get dirty. And that’s okay! The experiences he gains will be worth the extra pair of pants being thrown in the laundry.
Why Messy Outdoor Play is Worth It (Even in Winter)
- Being outside fights screen dependency. Experiencing the dopamine kicks from outdoor adventures naturally keeps kids attention, while lessening their need for constant stimulation.
- It builds resiliency. They learn that being uncomfortable (colder, dirtier, wetter) doesn’t always mean dangerous. You can easily throw a learning connection in there, talking about how plants/trees are resilient in the winter, even when they are cold!
- Sensory Play! The great outdoors are full of new and exciting textures and feelings, especially after a good rain. Uneven ground, squishy moss, squirmy wormies; It’s a toddlers dream!
- It creates lasting and unique memories for kids. When they look back on their childhood, are they going to remember how clean their floors were, or how much fun they had with you running around in the rain?
Let’s Make Peace with the Aftermath and Let Go of Guilt
Creating a solid after-the-mess routine can ease worries about outdoor play in the winter. My son knows that he can’t go past the stairs with his shoes on, so when we come inside he sits down and takes his boots off immediately. Other routine ideas that may help are things like making a pit stop in the garage before coming in, so you can throw anything in the laundry or take off muddy boots and tools. Or maybe you are a direct-to-bath type of person, where your kiddos know that the moment they are done playing outside, they are going to hop in the tub!
As long as the expectations for cleaning up are communicated beforehand (and probably again in the moment if you have a toddler😅) it should lessen your possible-mess-stress-levels. The idea of a toddler jumping onto my couch post rainy day play time is enough to send me into cardiac arrest, I get it! So communicate those expectations and take a deep breath, the mess will be manageable.
There’s a lot of guilt around cleanliness and parenthood. People can feel judged when their kids are seen outside in inclement weather, or when that load of laundry is piling up. I’m here to remind you though that this is how things change. If we all agree to let our kids get a little more messy, the stigma lessens! Plus, it’s not just about cleaning up an extra mess, it’s about creating a balance.
Final Thoughts
So I invite you to grab a few items from the thrift store the next time you’re out and about, and jump in that puddle with your kiddo. Breathe in that fresh air and notice the stillness of winter, soaking up these moments they won’t forget. And if you have gotten to this point and you’re still thinking “Yeah this lady is crazy, I’m not letting my kid roll around in the mud” I get it. But if I could convince you of anything, it’s to try it. Once. Let your littles go on a rainy adventure and see if the excitement in their eyes was worth the load of laundry!
The mess is temporary, the memories are forever.
❤️ Until next time
