Winter Activities for Young Children

Winter Activities for Young Children

When the beach is just a short car ride away, boredom is rarely an issue for children in the summer. The children of the Gold Coast are raised in sand, sun and saltwater, they are surrounded by endless opportunities to learn and grow. When the summer ends, however, and the days get shorter and colder, swims at the beach and fun in the sun are no longer play options for children. How can parents keep their children occupied and learning during the colder months of the year?

There are many educational and entertaining activities that can be undertaken in the winter. Here our team lists a few ideas you can try at home:

Exploring Nature, and The Mind

One option is bundling your children up and taking them on a nature walk. Connecting with nature reduces stress, enhances emotional capacity, increases attentiveness, provides many opportunities to learn and explore, and allows children the opportunity to simply appreciate nature. With so many things to watch, do and touch (with supervision), such outings increase sensory skills, recognition, and general environmental awareness. From Mount Tambourine to Springbrook, there are many natural Gold Coast locations waiting to be explored by your little ones.  

Running Wild and Having a Ball

Another way to keep your kids warm and growing is through sport and exercise. Whether they join specially designed programs, or they simply play What’s the time Mr Wolf? in the park, the benefits of exercising are endless. Playing sports, especially those with balls, increases hand-eye coordination, cognitive ability, reactions and reflexes, social skills, and communication ability. Due to the chilly weather, your children won’t be prone to overheating, and their energy will last a little longer.

Engage the Senses

But what if your children are too little to appreciate such sports? Strip playtime back to basics, with multi-sensory games and activities. While the washing load won’t thank you, playing with and touching different textured natural objects will increase your child’s sensory recognition and ignite their curiosity. Collect leaves to print with, paint with mud, or even conduct a little treasure hunt. All of these games will enhance their ability to think and respond, as well as nurture the bond between you and your child.

At The Strawberry Bush, we aim to incorporate a variety of games, exercises and activities into our children’s days. By bringing this educational fun into your child’s after-care life, you can ignite their passion for discovering the world around them, and encourage healthy life habits. Our program is designed around children’s natural interests, and we ensure we offer them plenty of unique opportunities to enhance their learning and develop new skills through our extracurricular programs.