This past season, public schools had to declare a lot of snow days. Now those schools are scrambling to make up time given to winter weather. In contrast, homeschools, who of course did not have to call off school because of the snow and sleet outside their front door, can now take advantage of the warmer days and declare A SUNSHINE DAY!
A sunshine day, like a snow day, is when normal education is suspended due to the weather. Only Sunshine Day weather beckons you outside, instead of making you want to cower in a warm corner like Snow Day weather!
Is it really worthwhile to interrupt the learning routine to go outside on a warm, sunny day? In a word, ABSOLUTELY! Here is why:
Outside = exercise. When kids go outdoors, they rarely sit around and do nothing. They are running, jumping, climbing, stretching – putting all that wonderful energy to good use! This has amazing benefits to learning. First, it helps them to sleep better. Sleep enhances cognitive function and attention span. Scientists claim that one of the main functions of sleep is related to learning and memory. Second, exercise improves learning. Studies have shown that there is an increase in perceptual skills, verbal and mathematics tests, and intelligent quotients for children who exercise. Third, and probably most obvious, exercise is important in preventing childhood obesity. Childhood obesity results in not only poor physical, mental and emotional help for the child but also creates a long (and scary!) list of diseases they are more likely to deal with as adults.
Outside = fresh air and sunshine. When outside, kids breathe fresh air. While it sounds so simple, the health results are profound. Fresh air purifies the lungs, allowing them to better take in oxygen to be delivered to the cells. Sunshine enables the skin to produce vitamin D, an essential nutrient for proper immune health and bone growth and strength. In addition, adequate vitamin D can reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease and even the flu! And while I’ve never seen a study on this, I can attest from personal experience, fresh air helps you sleep better, too!
Outside = observing nature. So much can be learned by observing nature! Besides learning how the natural world works, we can also learn how to make new things work. Did you know Velcro, super speed trains, and even desert-functional water bottles were inspired by flies, kingfishers, and beetles respectively? Giving your child lots of practice watching plants and animals could be the tool they need to create something revolutionary. Also, spending time in nature hones an appreciation for nature and fosters a sense of wonder and responsibility in the greater world.
So ready to call it a Sunshine Day? Here are some ideas to get you and your kids going:
- Grab a notebook and write down all you see. At first, kids will likely say, “It’s just the yard” but when they are encouraged to look closer, they will be amazed at all that is happening right at their feet! Those notes can easily become stories and poems as well as more “scientific” observation.
- Sketch book! Have the kids draw, draw, draw! Anything and everything that fascinates them.
- Find a place to catch frogs. Or even better, a polliwog or two that you can keep in a tank and watch transform.
- Create a list of questions for future research. For example, why is there still snow only on the north side of the house? How can squirrels run on the power lines? Why do some flowers come back after winter? Learning based on questions straight from a child’s mind is some of the best ever!
- Family fitness challenge! Have everyone see how many laps they can run around the house or yard or how many push-ups or how long each person can hula hoop. If family members cannot handle competition, then keep track all together.
- Find a comfy place to read.
- Visit a zoo, butterfly or botanical garden.
- Help a neighbor with spring yard work.
- Research a game you’ve never played and try it! (I’ve always wanted to learn to play cricket)
- Plant a garden (vegetable, flowers, or both!)
- Go for a bike ride, hike, or walk.
- Get a game of kickball going.
- Build a box city.* (Collect a bunch of boxes and let the kids build and create homes, forts, nests, whatever!) *This is one of my kids’ favorite thing to do outside! Recycle boxes when finished.
- Backyard campout. Even if no one is actually going to sleep out there, kids love to set up tents and “camp.”
- Fly kites!
- Geocaching and letterboxing. Follow clues to find “treasures” (www.geocaching.com) or an ink stamp souvenir (www.letterboxing.org).
- Sit in the sunshine and blow bubbles.
- Climb a tree. Or plan a tree house!
- Have a lemonade stand.
Just a few ideas to get you going! No doubt you can add many of your own ideas. And your kids will be healthier, better learners, and eventually grow to be adults who appreciate all that nature has to offer.
Happy Sunshine Day!
Sources:
https://www.healthambition.com/benefits-of-vitamin-a/
https://www.udemy.com/blog/sleep-and-learning/
http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/facts.htm
http://healthontrack.info/fresh-air-and-its-health-benefits/
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/benefits-vitamin-d#2
Copyright © 2014 J. Hoffman / Global Student Network
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Email: JHoffman@GlobalStudentNetwork.com