The Benefits of Outdoor Play in Winter

As the temperatures drop, many parents start spending less time outdoors with their children. It's a common worry: If my child plays outside in the cold, will they get sick? But cold weather itself doesn't cause colds or the flu. Viruses do.

Children can enjoy spending time outdoors throughout the year, including during the colder months. With proper clothing, safe weather conditions, and breaks to warm up, outdoor play can support their physical development, emotional well-being, and understanding of the natural world.

Let's look at what happens during cold and flu season, why outdoor time matters, and how to keep children comfortable and safe in colder weather:

Can Children Get Sick From Playing Outside in the Cold?

The common cold is caused by viruses, most often rhinoviruses. Influenza and RSV are also caused by viruses, not by cold temperatures. These viruses spread from person to person through respiratory particles released when someone breathes, talks, coughs, or sneezes. Some viruses can also spread when children touch contaminated surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.

During fall and winter, families often spend more time indoors. Children may be playing together in classrooms, indoor play spaces, and other areas where people are close to one another. When a room has poor ventilation, virus-containing particles can build up in the air, making it easier for respiratory infections to spread. Outside, moving air helps dilute these particles. This can reduce the risk of breathing in airborne viruses, although it doesn't eliminate the risk of getting sick.

Cold weather can also affect the body in other ways. Research suggests that breathing cold air may weaken some of the nose's local defenses against respiratory viruses. This is one reason the relationship between winter weather and illness is more complicated than simply saying cold temperatures have no effect. The important difference is that being cold doesn't create a viral infection. A virus must be present for a child to catch a cold, the flu, or RSV.

Why Is Outdoor Play Important for Children's Physical Development?

Think about what happens when your child walks through a forest. The ground isn't perfectly flat. There may be tree roots to step over, small hills to climb, fallen branches to walk around, and leaves covering the trail. Every step gives children an opportunity to practice controlling their movements. For example, walking on uneven ground challenges their balance, stepping over a branch requires coordination and climbing a small hill strengthens the muscles in their legs. These movements help children develop gross motor skills, which involve the larger muscles used for walking, running, jumping, climbing, and balancing.

Outdoor play also encourages children to move their bodies in different ways. A child might crouch down to examine a mushroom, reach up to touch a low branch, or carefully step across a muddy patch of trail. These simple activities give children opportunities to practice skills they use every day. Regular physical activity is important for healthy growth, and outdoor spaces provide many natural opportunities for children to stay active.

How Can Spending Time Outdoors Support Children's Emotional Well-Being?

Have you noticed how a short walk outside can sometimes change your mood? Children can benefit from time outdoors, too. Outdoor play gives children room to move, use their senses, and take a break from busy indoor environments. Research has linked time in nature with benefits for attention, mood, and well-being, although the effects vary among children and studies. 

Nature also gives children opportunities to practice independence and confidence. Imagine your child approaching a small fallen log on the trail. They stop, look at it, and decide whether to step over it or walk around. With your support, they make a decision and try something new. These little experiences allow children to practice problem-solving, make choices, and become more confident in their abilities.

Spending time outdoors in different seasons can also help children become familiar with changing weather conditions. They learn what cold air feels like, why they need a warm jacket, and how to recognize when their hands are getting too cold. Rather than avoiding winter altogether, we can help children learn how to enjoy the outdoors safely and comfortably.

What Can Children Learn From Nature During Winter?

One of my favorite things about teaching nature is how much changes throughout the year. The forest your child visits in July looks very different in November or December. During summer, leaves cover the branches and make it difficult to see what's happening high in the trees. In late fall, many trees have lost their leaves, revealing bird nests, interesting branch patterns, and other details that were hidden just a few weeks earlier. Winter gives us so many opportunities to slow down and look closely.

Why Can We See More Bird Nests in Winter?

Many birds build their nests during spring and summer, when they are raising their young. Once the leaves fall from deciduous trees, some of these nests become easier to spot. Look up into the branches with your child. Can you find a nest? Does it look like a cup, a loose pile of sticks, or a small bundle of grasses? Talk about what the bird might have used to build it. Some birds use twigs, grass, moss, bark, and even spider silk to hold their nests together. Most songbirds don't use their old nests as winter homes, but finding one can lead to an interesting conversation about how birds raise their babies. Remember to observe nests from a distance and leave them undisturbed.

How Do Birds Stay Warm in Winter?

Not every bird flies south when the weather gets cold. Here on Long Island, we can see birds such as black-capped chickadees, northern cardinals, blue jays, and downy woodpeckers throughout winter. Birds have several ways to survive cold temperatures. Their feathers help trap a layer of air close to their bodies, providing insulation. You might notice a small bird looking round and fluffy on a cold morning. It may be fluffing its feathers to help retain warmth. Birds also need food to fuel their bodies and maintain their body temperature. On your next walk, listen for bird calls and look closely at the branches. Can your child spot a chickadee or a woodpecker?

Where Do Bugs Go When It Gets Cold?

Children often notice that there aren't as many insects flying around during winter...but that doesn't mean they've all disappeared. Some insects spend winter as eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults, depending on the species. They may be hiding beneath fallen leaves, inside rotting logs, under tree bark, or in the soil. A thick layer of fallen leaves helps insulate the ground and provides shelter for many small animals. When you see leaves covering the forest floor, ask your child: Who might be hiding underneath? You don't need to dig through every pile to find out. Sometimes it's enough to look closely, make a guess, and learn about the animals that depend on these habitats.

What Happens to Trees During Winter?

Many trees on Long Island lose their leaves in autumn. As the days become shorter and temperatures drop, deciduous trees enter a period of dormancy, when growth and other activities slow down. Without leaves, children can see the shapes of branches more clearly. Look for the buds along a twig. Many trees form these buds before winter, and they contain structures that will develop into new leaves or flowers when growing conditions improve. You can also compare the bark of different trees. Is it smooth, rough, peeling, or covered in deep ridges? These small observations help children learn to recognize trees even when they don't have leaves.

How Cold Is Too Cold for Children to Play Outside?

There isn't one temperature that's safe for every child in every situation. Wind, moisture, the length of time outdoors, a child's age, and their health all matter. A calm, dry winter day can feel very different from a windy day at the same temperature. Wind increases heat loss from exposed skin, and wet clothing makes it harder for the body to stay warm.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dressing children appropriately for the weather and taking precautions to prevent cold-related injuries.

A few important habits can help keep outdoor play comfortable:

-Dress children in layers. A moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating middle layer, and a weather-resistant outer layer can help keep them warm and dry.

-Protect their hands, feet, ears, and heads with appropriate winter clothing.

-Check for wet socks, mittens, and other clothing, and replace them when needed.

-Take breaks indoors to warm up, especially during very cold or windy weather.

-Watch for signs that your child is getting too cold, such as persistent shivering, unusual tiredness, numbness, or changes in skin color.

-Check the temperature and wind chill before heading outside, and follow pediatric cold-weather guidance.

Children with asthma may experience coughing or breathing difficulties when exposed to cold, dry air. Some children with other medical conditions may also need additional precautions.

**This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Consult your child's pediatrician about cold-weather activities if your child has an autoimmune condition, other medical conditions, or additional health concerns. Read Little Hikers Weather policy.

How Can You Make Winter Nature Walks More Interesting for Your Child?

You don't need a long hike or a complicated activity to teach your child about nature. Sometimes a 15-minute walk gives you plenty to talk about. Instead of focusing on how far you walk, choose one thing to notice together. Maybe you're looking for bird nests in bare trees. Maybe you're comparing the bark of two different trees. Or perhaps you're watching a woodpecker move along a tree trunk.

Ask questions that encourage your child to observe:

What do you notice about this tree? Why do you think this bird is fluffing its feathers? Can you find a leaf that is still attached to a branch? Where do you think the insects are hiding? What looks different from the last time we walked here? You don't have to know every answer. Take a picture, talk about what you noticed, and learn more together when you get home. The goal is to help children become curious about the world around them and understand that nature is worth observing in every season.

Join Little Hikers Long Island for Outdoor Nature Classes

Love learning about nature with your child? Come join Little Hikers Long Island! Our outdoor nature education program at West Hills County Park in Huntington, Long Island, teaches children ages 2–6 and their parents about local plants, bugs, trees, wildlife, and seasonal changes. Each class includes nature-themed movement games, a lesson about what we're learning that week, and a guided nature walk where children use tools such as binoculars and magnifying glasses to look closely at what we find. During November and December, children will also take home a Nature Mystery Box with an educational activity to complete together at home.

Winter is a wonderful opportunity to help your child notice how the natural world changes throughout the year. Visit Little Hikers Long Island to view our class schedule and register.