Spring into Play: Finding Joy in All Spring Weather

April showers bring May flowers, but what happens when the showers extend way past April? How do we prioritize playing outside and outdoor experiences when there is inclement weather? With a little advanced preparation and a mindset shift, Spring can become a rich opportunity for connection, play, and joy for the whole family. 

Prepare Ahead of Time 

Before you head to your local park or playground, check the weather and ensure that you are prepared for the potential forecast. This is especially important for children who may have sensory sensitivities and who may be extra overwhelmed by the feeling of wet clothes or raindrops. Springtime play can also bring unpredicted thunderstorms which can make outdoor play difficult for kids who prefer routine and advanced notice about transitions. So how can we best prepare? Pack for the weather - consider bringing all of your family’s rain gear and an umbrella if your child would like to use one. Consider keeping a change of clothes and spare outdoor items (e.g. extra mittens for those unexpected cold Spring days) in your car. And give plenty of advanced preparation to your children about the potential of a change of plans due to weather - you could use a social story if that would be helpful for your child. 

Model Positive Mindset 

Children often look to the adults in their lives to figure out how to respond to their surroundings. If you roll your eyes when someone mentions going outside in the rain, children will pick up on that. On the contrary, if you look outside at the sprinkling rain and say “today would be a great day to jump in puddles,” your child will also learn from that! Modeling a positive mindset to play in all types of weather, as long as they are safe, helps your child to expand their play and view weather as part of their adventure. 

Be Open to Exploration 

One of the most wonderful parts about playing outside in all types of weather, is the different play opportunities that are created. If you never play in the rain, your child won’t get to jump in puddles. If you never adventure into the mud, your child will never get to build a mud pie. When nature presents various types of weather, the outcome is various types of play environment. Try not to enter into outdoor play with an agenda or expectations for your child; allow them to lead and come up with their own ideas. 

If you are interested in the child-led and play-based approach that we use at Good Nature Therapy Services, we invite you to explore how our one-on-one services or therapeutic groups may benefit your child. We would love to work alongside your family, growing your child’s skills one nature-filled adventure at a time. 

Visit our website for more information and to contact us.