No such thing as bad weather...

Just bad gear…

You’ve probably heard this saying or something similar before and it is a notion I fully embrace with the Nature Kids and in my Nature Education Teacher Training. So much so that I have it written into our Terms of Engagement form, to raise awareness and let parents and teachers know, we connect with and explore nature in all weathers.

To me, bad gear can mean not having the right clothes for the weather, or the right attitude towards the weather.

I've never understood why people comment that the rain is bad, or other similar not-so-nice (poor weather, haha) comments about the rain, or inclement weather. The weather, is, well, just the weather and the truth is we need the rain, and other weather conditions without them there would be no life on Earth.

As we move into Winter it can be tempting to not go outside as much, especially if it's wet and cold. But connecting with nature in all weathers is SO important for our children’s growth and development and they absolutely love it, especially if they are well prepared.

Connecting with nature in all weather…

builds grit and resilience⁠
provides hands-on experience of nature in all her beauty
helps children learn first-hand about the weather and seasons
is a sensory experience⁠ - mud, rain, wind, cold
promotes problem solving - for example, assessing risks on slippery surfaces etc.
learning about the elements and developing scientific curiosity and literacy
it is lots of fun and brings a sense of joy and wonder⁠
helps boost our immune system*
helps us understand we do not need to rely on only sunny days for our happiness

How we speak about the weather is really important, especially with and around our children. This is something we talk about a lot at Nature Kids and in my Nature Education Training for Teachers and as a result the kids and teachers I work with have a more positive attitude to the weather.

So, watch your words, they are powerful, and remember the weather isn't bad, it is simply…raining, windy, cold or even sunny (yes, there are some who even complain about the sun). I’ve shared a few ideas below about how we can change our words to be more empowering.

Having conversations with our children and getting them thinking about, asking questions and finding the answers to their questions about the the weather helps them to develops a more positive mindset and more interest in connecting with nature what-ever-the-weather.

Instead of this, say that…

the rain is really bad we’ll stay inside - INSTEAD- the earth is smiling today with all this rain, let’s get our jackets and gumboots and enjoy it too.
it’s too windy to go outside today - INSTEAD - Tawhirimatea* is showing off today, let’s get wrapped up and see what he’s got to say.
ohhh its freezing lets stay inside - INSTEAD - wow, it must be snowing somewhere, let’s get our warm clothes on and see if we can find (feel) it.

No matter what the weather we can enjoy nature if we've got good gear…

I probably don’t need to spell this out, but, here are some ideas for good gear so you and your children can enjoy nature whatever the weather…

a good quality long length rain jacket with a hood (the kids love splash magic from Therm but there are great options anywhere)
splash pants - the type you pull over your normal pants, great for when its really wet or muddy
a warm hat - wool or merino is great as it doesn’t get soaking wet
warm layers so items can be peeled off as the weather changes, and it often does
warm socks and a spare pair
gumboots, or bare feet if it is not too cold and you have socks to put on afterwards (this is great for school classrooms)
a spare bag with a small towel and a change of clothes incase children get very wet and muddy (and they probably will, they love it)

I hope this helps you embrace the weather, what ever it is and get outside connecting with nature everyday with your class or children. *And, if you’d like to read more about how connecting with nature in wet and cold weather doesn’t make us sick, and can actually boost our immunity click HERE.