Charlotte Mason on Cold Weather Outdoor Time

Do you know that Charlotte Mason devotes an entire chapter in her Volume 1 Home Education to the topic of “walks in bad weather”? And here we are admittedly squeamish about leaving the house when it’s raining or snowing! 

Let’s take a look at what she says about being outdoors in winter: 

If the children are to have what is quite the best thing for them, they should be two or three hours every day in the open air all through winter, say an hour and a half in the morning and as long in the afternoon. (Vol 1 Page 85) 

Wow! I must admit I find that hard to imagine, but let’s keep on reading what she says: 

Pleasures connected with Frost and Snow.––When frost and snow are on the ground children have very festive times, what with sliding, snow-balling, and snow-building. But even on the frequent days when it is dirty under foot and dull over head they should be kept interested and alert, so that the heart may do its work cheerfully, and a grateful glow be kept up throughout the body in spite of clouds and cold weather. (Vol 1 Page 85) 

Hmmm, she’s right about kids having “festive times” playing in the snow! But notice that she even encourages time outdoors even when it’s “dull overhead.” And look at what the result of intentionally keeping alert even through dull weather: “so that the heart may do its work cheerfully, and a grateful glow be kept up throughout the body in spite of clouds and cold weather.” 

Wow, I want to keep that grateful glow, don’t you? 

The Importance of Winter Nature Study 

Because trees live through all four seasons, we don’t want our children to miss out on an important part of their lives by not going out to see them in the winter. Miss Mason describes how observing a big tree in the summer and spring may also have the added notes of when they lose their leaves and how they look in the winter. 

But another add on is that things seem “clearer” during winter, perhaps because most of the trees have lost their leaves, and any bird coming out to look for food (those that haven’t migrated to warmer climates, at least) will be more easily spotted. Here’s how Miss Mason put it:

There is no reason why the child’s winter walk should not be as fertile in observations as the poet’s; indeed, in one way, it is possible to see the more in winter, because the things to be seen do not crowd each other out. (Vol 1 Page 86) 

Walks in Wet Weather 

Miss Mason also includes a portion dedicated to wet days. (Understandably, since England is known for its rains.) Look at what she says: 

Wet Weather Tramps.––But what about the wet days? The fact is, that rain, unless of the heaviest, does the children no harm at all if they are suitably clothed. But every sort of water proof garment should be tabooed, because the texture which will not admit rain will not allow of the escape of the insensible perspiration, and one secret of health for people who have no organic disease is the prompt carrying off of the decayed and harmful matters discharged by the skin. (Vol 1 Page 86) 

I wonder if this is still the scientific norm these days? I personally am more inclined to make sure my children wear waterproof clothing during the wet days, how about you? 

Or course, she then recommends making sure that as soon as the child comes in, to change them into dry clothes, saying that as long as they change quickly, they won’t get sick. But she offers a special precaution about not letting them stand around in wet clothes, recommending waterproof rain-wraps for walking to someplace where they can’t change their clothes. So I suppose that’s why I personally prefer waterproof clothing, unless of course we’re just letting them play in the rain!  

To encourage you to be more adventurous, let’s finish up with some more of what she says: 

But it is enough for our purpose to prove that the rain need do no harm; for abundant daily exercise in the fresh air is of such vital importance to the children, that really nothing but sickness should keep them within doors. A mere time and distance tramp is sufficiently joyous for a wet day, for, taken good-humouredly, the beating rain itself is exhilarating. The ‘long run’ of the schoolboy, that is, a steady trot, breaking now and then into a run, is capital exercise; but regard must be had to the powers of the children, who must not be overdone. (Vol 1 Page 86). 

Spending Time Outdoors in Wet or Cold Weather 

From what Miss Mason says, it looks like wet or cold weather is not an excuse not to get out of doors! But if you want to be safe, stay tuned for our upcoming post on Best Weather-Proof Clothing to Maximize Outdoor Time.