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We are totally blessed in the UK to have such changeable weather. If you are reaching for your holiday brochure of permanently warm climates, hang on a tick and hear me out... Living in the UK, we are lucky to have so much variety in the weather - and culturally speaking, many conversations would probably never have been started, if we didn't have this variety upon which to comment. So, whether you're a permanent resident, a long term visitor, or just staying in the UK for a while, you can't fail to be affected by the weather - be it for good or ill! The weather here DOES have a significant impact on our lives - and we have our four glorious seasons to enjoy with our children - each of them carrying the potential for many new, exciting experiences with them. In the spring, the season of new growth, lengthening daylight hours and fresh colours, we have the sunshine, the April showers (lots of splashing about in muddy puddles), the beautiful spring flowers, the new leaves on the trees, increased activity of native animals and birds to talk about. Some days are sunny, some rainy, some showery, some windy, some warm, some cold, some even snowy. There is much to talk about with our children. In the warm summer days (2012 excepted!), we have the longest days of all, the bright midday sun, the exuberant flower colours, busy insects, gardening, paddling pools, days out, picnics, lots of time outdoors, thunderstorms, camping, holidays abroad. So much to talk about. As autumn comes and the leaves start to die off, we have the beautiful autumn displays, shorter days, more changeable weather - lots of wind and rain - lots of puddles to splash in again, conkers, leaf rubbing, playing in piles of colourful leaves, wrapping up a little bit warmer, an extra hour in bed (unless you have a baby.... ;) ), warming foods, cosy days and evenings at home, coughs and sneezes, harvest festivals, animals hunting out the last vestiges of the summer food bounty, umbrellas, gloves, boots. So much to talk about. And at the turn of the year, we find ourselves in winter. Short daylight hours, cold weather, frosts, snow, hats, gloves, boots, scarves, extra layers, longer in bed (unless you have a baby... ;) ), winter holidays and celebrations, warm colours to wear, decorating the house for various holidays, spending time at home with our families and pets. So much to talk about. The weather is a hugely important part of our lives in the UK - affecting babies and toddlers as much as it does grown ups. Talking about the weather and the seasons has many benefits for our children - many of which we can easily relate to the EYFS requirements for 0 - 5s.
So when we teach weather related signs in week 3 of Stage 2, we are doing much more than promoting small talk or simply noticing that it's raining (again). We are teaching an awareness of the world around us and our children. We are teaching the passage of time. We are teaching children to observe how they feel in different weather conditions. Experience the weather as a child does - with interest and wonder at all the differences. To cite Sir Ranulph Fiennes, there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.
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AuthorTrish Cummings - waxing lyrical about babysigning, babies, toddlers, parenting, and sharing her many opinions :) lover of South East London, ex pat of Cornwall. Archives
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