Learning To Love the Snow

When we moved from California, Patrick was 3. He had seen snow, but not had much experience with it. It didn't take him long to turn his fascination with this new kind of weather into true enthusiasm. He quickly realized that snow is wet and cold and worth dressing appropriately for. It was much harder to convince him that a clear, sunny fall or winter day without snow could be cold enough to require a winter coat, hat and gloves. Now, in the midst of our third winter in Ontario, he is an old hand at dressing for the weather and usually does a fine job. He loves to sled, skate, and make snowmen, snow forts, and snow angels. This year, we have had deep, soft snow and he has enjoyed simply trudging through it. Teaching Michael, William and Jocelyn about winter weather and the fun that snow can be has been more challenging.

Last winter we hardly had them out in the snow at all. For one thing, they couldn't yet walk, so they had no way of generating extra body heat through exercise. They got brief excursions between the car and various buildings and they saw winter through the window, and that was about it.

At the beginning of this winter, we had a few days with light flurries and no accumulation. I made a point of getting the kids outside to feel the snow on their faces. They were enthusiastic about the new experience as long as I didn't let them get cold.

The first day that there was an significant snow on the ground, Andy and I bundled them up in snowsuits and took them outside. It took a good 20 minutes to get them all into their outdoor gear. Gloves and hats were removed several times, boots were resisted and the snowsuits were a struggle. Once they were finally dressed, we opened the door and let them out. They stood inside for some time, unsure of how to proceed. Eventually, they braved the new environment. William and Jocelyn had an easier time walking than Michael, who tripped every time he tried to move. Jocelyn and William managed to move around enough to get frustrated that they couldn't run and climb. After just a few minutes, each of them had fallen, gotten snow inside their mittens and started crying to come inside. Half an hour after beginning the adventure, we were back inside and undressed.

Shortly afterward, they were given fleece buntings that are easier to walk in than the snowsuits, but not as warm. The first successful adventure into the snow was in the buntings in warm weather. It was just 10 minutes or so in the front yard, but they actually enjoyed walking around and watching their big brother run and fall in the snow.

By now, they are comfortable walking in their snow suits, but don't like the cold. On the few warm days that we have had, they have really enjoyed being outside. Walking in boots has become a favorite activity inside, so they are now quite good at running in boots when they aren't in snowsuits.

If the snow gets deep enough, it is hard to walk in. 4 inches is about what my kids can handle. And we have had a lot more snow than that most of the winter. So, unless the snow is well packed, they like to stand on shoveled surfaces and kick at the snow piles.

We haven't ventured far in the snowy outdoors. It is too easy for a fun time to become miserable when somebody gets cold. But, it is a beginning. By next year, we should be ready to try sledding on the local hill as long as the weather isn't too terribly cold.