Common Ground 11/28/22 Common Ground 11/28/22

We go outside, even in the winter

We are looking at A LOT OF snowy days coming up this winter!

And we cannot wait for all of our outdoor winter adventures.

We wanted to address some concerns about having kids outside during the colder, darker months. Please rest assured that we keep abreast of the weather constantly. We are always tuned into how the kids and adults are faring. We keep their safety and comfort in mind as well as all the safety and licensing regulations.

We will also not subject a child to outdoor play if they are not properly attired. We have worked to have a stock of jackets, mittens, hats, even boots so that a child who comes unprepared may still participate with their friends. That being said, visiting our Supply List and making sure that your child has everything they need for each season helps us and them each day!

There will be some days that are too wet or too cold! We will have little movie and popcorn parties and days where we do art while the weather outside is frightful. BUT barring exceptional highs and lows, most weather is perfectly fine for kids and adults of all ages, and we will be going outside as often as possible.

The Better Kid Care Program, the center of knowledge for all the best childcare curriculums and teacher programs, has an entire article on the importance of winter play for children. You can read it here.

The loss of consistent outdoor playtime is absolutely detrimental to the physical and emotional wellness of a child.

In this article from Tinkergarten, they talk about how children need several HOURS of play time a day to be healthy! Keeping them indoors may seem the best way to be safe, but really, we are hindering their growth.

Occupational therapists encourage parents to take children outside in all seasons. This helps brain development and to mitigate sensory issues that are on the rise in children.

Kids are meant to play. They are meant to get dirty and windswept. They are meant to eat snow, trip in their swishy snow-pants, to fall down and find they can get back up again.
According to Pediatric Occupational Therapist Angela Hanscom, not only are these things incredible for attention and sensory issues, they are a KEY ROLE in developing The Vestibular System. This is the system our bodies use to know where we are in space! It is even more important than it sounds. Without serious play, children are more frail, more clumsy, less able to pay attention, and much more likely to struggle with emotional regulation.

Our preschool teachers are especially focused on “Kindergarten-Readiness.” This involves working on letters and numbers and pre-writing skills, but it also involves physical health and social-emotional independence. Outdoor lessons and games help cement fine-motor and gross-motor work. Operating in varying weather helps develop their sensory resilience which is essential for increasing attention span inside and outside of the classroom.

For more on Angela Hanscom’s research and Timbernook Program, click here!
For more on outside play and holistic healthy development, check out this CoordiKids Article

Here are some totally normal, outside winter activities we do at Common Ground that actually promote Kindergarten Readiness.
1. Building an Igloo with Friends: Promotes core strength, cooperation, simple machines and tools usage, basic engineering, imaginative play, patience, sensory endurance
2. Snow Walking and Rolling down Hills: Inner Ear training, strength training, leg and inner core training, aerobic workout
3. Snow Writing: Using natural tools to promote fine-motor practice. You can also use markers to do color work.
4. Winter Walk: Aerobic Exercise, Seasonal Cycles and Lessons, basic biology flora/fauna studies

What do we always say? NO BAD WEATHER. ONLY BAD CLOTHES!
Is you child really set up for this winter? Here are items that we have on our student supply list that we highly recommend purchasing as soon as possible.

Please keep in mind that all the shopping links on our blog are Amazon affiliate links. If you shop with amazon through those links, you are also supporting Common Ground directly AND keeping your kiddos prepared for all seasons!

Check out our SUPPLY LIST for our recommendations for each season!

SNOW BOOTS — Snow comes in all different shapes and sizes, but it is always cold and always wet. An insulated, water resistant boot that goes high up a child’s leg will keep them warm and dry while they play. PLEASE NOTE: While rainbows will keep a child’s foot dry, they are not properly insulated and do not offer any protection against the cold. Snow boots are most appropriate in cold, wintry weather.
WATERPROOF GLOVES OR MITTENS — Snow gloves protect against the cold, but they are also water resistant. Cotton gloves, while warm, will become wet very quickly and will do more harm than good when trying to keep your child’s hands warm. Please make sure they have snow gloves available.

SNOW PANTS — Snow pants are key to making sure a child is warm and happy for a longer period of time. The water resistant fabric makes sure that the pants they wear to school stay as dry as possible so fewer clothing changes are required.
THERMAL UNDERWEAR — We recommend these over sweat suits because they keep a child warm without overheating them or keeping their sweat in. These are perfect for layering winter clothes and helping a child regulate their body temperature while they play rough outside.

SNOW HAT — Kids need hats! It helps protect them against the wind, the snow, the rain, etc.
WINTER COAT
RAIN COAT (WORN OVER WINTER COAT ON WET DAYS)
EXTRA LAYERS OF CLOTHING, LONG UNDERWEAR, DOUBLE SOCKS, ETC…

We will keep you all posted on our winter lessons and activities! Stay safe!!

— LJ and the Common Ground Crew

Here are some other essential readings on the subject of being outside.

Safety Tips for Childcare Providers and Parents!

A Montessori Guide to Playing in Winter!

Athletes and Explorers discuss keeping your kids warm in winter!

Common Ground 1/29/21 Common Ground 1/29/21

Snow Potential this Sunday - Snow Policy Reminder

There is a potential for the second snow of this season this Sunday! This storm has the potential to impact center operations on Monday, with the current forecasts are calling for between 3-5 inches on Sunday and another 1-3 inches of snow on Monday.

With that in mind, we’d like to remind you of our snow policy. In general, we follow the federal government, especially in regard to delayed openings and early closings, since those calls are made with the commute in mind. With our current limited operating hours, if the federal government delays by 2 hours, Common Ground will open at 8:30am instead of 8am. If they close early, we ask that you make every effort to pick up by the earlier of the two times - one hour past the government closing time or by 4pm.

If the federal government closes, there is a good chance Common Ground will also be closed. However, if they remain closed for multiple days and we feel that the roads in Reston, including the Common Ground Parking lot, are safe enough to open, then we will make every effort to open the center. I know that seems like a bit of a confusing policy, we just want to have the ability to err on the side of open, in case the government makes a call that doesn’t make sense for the Reston area!

The one exception, if Fairfax County Government, who almost NEVER closes, decides to close and the federal government doesn’t, then we will follow suit and close as well, because that means that there could be a greater impact on the Reston area, than the larger DC area.

Confused yet?! Don’t worry, we will stay in constant communication to let you know our plans! Our operating status will be posted on the website, instagram, and messaged through Brightwheel.

The point is - we want to be open, but only if it is safe for us to get our staff here and home safely.

And when there is snow and we are open, make sure your kiddo is prepared with snow gear, as there is nothing more fun than playing out in the snow with your school friends!

Common Ground 12/14/20 Common Ground 12/14/20

Common Ground: Winter Activities and Winter Attire

We are looking at A LOT OF snowy days coming up this winter!!

And we cannot wait for all of our outdoor winter adventures. There will be some days that are too wet or too cold! We will have little movie and popcorn parties and days where we do art while the weather outside is frightful.

But more and more studies are coming out showing how essential outdoor play is to our kids, and how the loss of consistent outdoor playtime is absolutely detrimental to their holistic well being. Kids are meant to play. They are meant to get dirty and windswept. They are meant to eat snow, trip in their swishy snow-pants, to fall down and find they can get back up again.

Play to Learn, Learn to Play Examples:
1. Building an Igloo with Friends: Promotes core strength, cooperation, simple machines and tools usage, basic engineering, imaginative play, patience, sensory endurance
2. Snow Walking and Rolling down Hills: Inner Ear training, strength training, leg and inner core training, aerobic workout
3. Snow Writing: Using natural tools to promote fine-motor practice. You can also use markers to do color work.
4. Winter Walk: Aerobic Exercise, Seasonal Cycles and Lessons, basic biology flora/fauna studies

Kids Snow Boots — Snow comes in all different shapes and sizes, but it is always cold and always wet. An insulated, water resistant boot that goes high up a child’s leg will keep them warm and dry while they play. PLEASE NOTE: While rainbows will keep a child’s foot dry, they are not properly insulated and do not offer any protection against the cold. Snow boots are most appropriate in cold, wintry weather.

Snow Gloves — Snow gloves protect against the cold, but they are also water resistant. Cotton gloves, while warm, will become wet very quickly and will do more harm than good when trying to keep your child’s hands warm. Please make sure they have snow gloves available.
Snow Pants — Snow pants are key to making sure a child is warm and happy for a longer period of time. The water resistant fabric makes sure that the pants they wear to school stay as dry as possible so fewer clothing changes are required.
Thermal Underwear — We recommend these over sweat suits because they keep a child warm without overheating them or keeping their sweat in. These are perfect for layering winter clothes and helping a child regulate their body temperature while they play rough outside.