During the winter months, it’s all too common for people to retreat indoors, hoping to avoid winter colds and flu by staying cosy and warm, playing games and watching TV in their living rooms.

Sadly, the idea of staying inside preventing colds and flu is a misconception. The flu and the common cold aren’t caused by being cold, they’re caused by viruses. People catch colds more often during the winter not because they got cold and wet, but because they spend more time indoors, and are exposed to other people more often.

Also, viruses spread more easily through dry air. Not only is the air drier outside in the winter, it’s drier inside too, because people have their heating on all day, every day. Cold weather might make it easier for colds to spread, but it does’t actually cause the colds in the first place.

So, it makes no sense to keep kids stuck indoors during the winter months. If they want to go and play in the snow, let them. If they fancy a snowball fight, or just want to play with some garden toys and games, encourage them to do so. It will do them good.

The Benefits of Outdoor Play

Active play is a good thing at any time of the year, but in the winter it’s especially important. Playing outside gets the heart going, encourages circulation, and can help you to feel warmer. Most kids don’t really feel the cold anyway, so they won’t notice that benefit, but they will enjoy the side health benefits. Active children are happier, less likely to become obese, and tend to carry their healthy habits with them into adulthood.

If you invite some of the other neighborhood kids over to play in your garden, then you’re not only giving your kids a chance to enjoy some healthy outdoor play, you’re also helping them to develop social skills which will serve them well later in life.

You will need to make sure that your kids wrap up warm, and don’t let their extremities get too cold or wet. The chances of frostbite kicking in are pretty slim in a temperate climate, but if you’re worried, don’t let them go too far from the house! Fortunately, when they’re playing out in the garden, the biggest danger is probably just soggy feet and a grumpy child. A nice cup of hot chocolate should quickly fix that issue.

If your kids don’t want to go outside; perhaps because they’re engrossed in their favorite TV show, or are too busy playing Skylanders or some other video game, don’t give up. Even kids that are too old for garden toys and games can have fun outside. Show them some photos of creative snowmen on Flickr, and challenge them to make one. Some creative people have made Snow Daleks, Snowman Sonic the Hedgehogs, and even snow people sitting at a bus shelter. If there’s one thing that can get even a jaded young teen’s imagination going, it’s a bit of friendly competition.

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of The Original Factory Shop, who offer discounted clothes, household goods and garden toys for children.

Amy is a lover of the great outdoors, whatever the weather!