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Weather in the Early Years…

7th June 2023

We all know someone whose mood is affected by cold, dark weather. It might be you.

The weather, very British-ly, is wearing me down.

I love the winter, but not in JUNE!

I’m tired of trying to dress for both hot and cold.

I’m sick of seeing grey skies and feeling the chilly wind.

(There is always a breeze here by the sea, but this is getting ridiculous!)

My son, Arthur, this morning told me that he didn’t know whether to wear a coat to school because it was a bit warm but his knees are cold.

Same son, same.

I’ve tried not to keep complaining about it and enjoy the brief afternoons of brightness.

We have had dinner-time discussions about climate change and what this means for the year ahead. We’ve remembered the searing heat of last summer and concluded that it’s all a bit rubbish.

But, it is so easy to keep complaining about something that we could change.

It’s too easy to blame everything, and everyone else for a rubbish situation.

There’s no complaints department for the weather.

The responsibility stops with us.

(DON’T PANIC, this isn’t a guilt-laden soapbox speech with demands for changes now!)

Extreme, unpredictable weather patterns are a well documented symptom of global warming.

I know a bit of wind in June isn’t exactly extreme, but it feels like it after months of the same.

As early years practitioners, we not only have the power to change our own behaviour, but change the outlook of the littlest members of our society.

I’m not talking about moaning and blaming and suffering.

So, on my hot and cold walk to work this morning, I thought of some things that we can talk to them about in relation to weather.

I hope that you’ll find some of the below ideas helpful and maybe prompt you to think about about some activities that you already do.

Let me know!

SEASONS

Crunchy leaves in autumn – what can we make with fallen leaves? Why do they fall? Do they all fall? How many colours can we find?
The first and last frost – can we predict this? Why, why not? What is frost?
Spring time and new growth – what different things could you plant, that would thrive in our climate? Can you find a use for blossom?
How to be safe in the summer sun – how does the weather presenter know you’ll need to stay in the shade? Why does suncream feel so cold and sticky?
Different climates – is everywhere the same as us? Where is it hotter or colder?

WEATHER TYPES

Sun – How is winter sun and summer sun different? What does the sun do for us? How can it hurt us?
Rain – Do we need wellies? Why? What are they made of? Why do we need rain?
Clouds – Dark clouds, light clouds, small clouds, big clouds, aeroplane clouds…
Wind – How are seeds spread? How fast is wind? Where does it come from?
Snow – Have you ever seen and felt snow? What is it made of? Can we make our own snow? Where in the world is there a lot of snow? Do we need it?

These may feel like concepts far to advanced for a 3 year old, but I don’t expect you to understand and explain weather forecasting. (I certainly couldn’t!)

The idea is to think differently about the same things you’ve done year in, year out since you qualified.

You might be reactive to the individual child and provide resources appropriate to their interests and skills, but that doesn’t need to exclude being reactive to the changing world that you will be sending them out into. Expand your vocabulary and understanding and you will expand theirs too.

That’s all for now. Have a great rest of your day.

Iona Douglas
sparkCONSULTANT @ sparkHQ

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