The beautiful days of autumn we spent learning outdoors are only a memory.  The warmth and freshness of spring is only something hoped for.  Nature study and outdoor play are important aspects of our home educating, however I normally would plan outside learning during the warmer months. Honestly, with the days being so cold, damp, and grey,  I prefer to keep our homeschooling indoors.  (Unless there’s snow!  Snow makes wonderful hands- on studies, but that’s another post for another time! https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/07/snow-week/ )

Coats, hats, gloves, double socks… can be a bit of a burden to keep up with and just adds more height to Mt. Laundry.  Not to mention the cleanup from wet and dripping boots that make puddles across the hard wood floors.  It is difficult to plan anything outdoors in advance this time of year with wet weather, runny noses and coughs,  crafting and baking to do, excuse after excuse.

The Surprising Benefits of Outdoor Education has convinced me to get our family outside on every possible occasion regardless of my winter themed excuses to stay in.  Spending time outdoors is good for us in any season.  It’s good for our bodies.  It’s good for our brains.  It’s good for our schooling.  https://www.learningliftoff.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-outdoor-learning/

Nature crafts and projects are still possible in the winter months.  I love this idea for a frozen door hanger made from items collected from a nature walk.  https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/winter-craft-creating-nature-art-with-ice

And this suet log  (peanut butter can be substituted) will keep the birds hanging around.  We put our bird feeders in front of our big window so that our nature observation continues once we’re back inside   http://snapguide.com/guides/make-a-suet-log-bird-feeder/

We’ve found lots of fun winter time activity ideas here http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/winter/

I’m thinking now would be a good time to set up a new weather center.  (Our last one washed away during a flash flood)  The resources we used last time were great.  We will get our homemade weather instrument instructions from here again  http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-experiments.htm

And something for a little added music while we’re in search of matching gloves and extra socks or for warming up when we come back indoors …

But go out anyway!  But if you just can’t, here’s some activity ideas for inside.

A “Homeschool Mom Approved” Youtube Excercise Playlist (for when we can’t get outside)   https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/01/10/get-up-and-move-a-break-time-playlist/

25 Fun Activities You Can Do Inside When It’s Cold Outside!  https://www.franw.com/2017/12/25-fun-activities-you-can-do-inside.html

betty jo