WILD CHILD: What do I do if my little one doesn't want to go outside?
My littlest went through a few “I don't want to go outside!” stages. Since we know outdoor play is super important, what is a parent to do?
Here are some of the things that worked with my mini-me:
Are they cold? Cold or wet feet and hands make for no fun playing. Conversely a pair of warm waterproof boots, warm waterproof mitts, and warm (not cotton) socks once turned an outside grumbler into a snow fanatic. A brilliant friend showed me how she pulls off mitts or boots to feel their hands and feet to determine if the little one is cold - it's that simple!
Are they hungry? Sometimes a pre-adventure snack and drink can make all the difference. A mid-adventure hot chocolate is fun too.
Are they tired? When my littlest was still napping, we often needed to play just before naptime or right after he woke up to ensure a good amount of time outside. But tired littles can be grumpy, and sometimes changing the timing helps; sometimes I just have to accept that grumpiness might happen and playing anyway is the best solution.
Are they frustrated? We see this a lot in the early toddlers stage with boots and mitts. When snow is up to your knees and your warm gloves are too puffy to pick things up, it's hard to walk and do things. For this stage, we tried picking treed areas to play in less deep snow, and tried to bring several pairs of fleece or thinner mitts to swap on and off as temperature and play allowed.
Finally, are YOU having fun? Little people are amazing observers. If you don't like making snow people and forts, they will know and get bored quickly. But if you love sledding, they will catch that excitement too and may enjoy it more. You don't have to love everything, but find something you do love and share that with them.
Ironically these times were also the “I don't want to stop playing now that I like it” stages too. Sometimes you can't win, but at least you can get outside and have fun in-between the battles.
Written by Tandy Morton, WILD CHILD Outdoor Playgroup Facilitator