Traditions

I was recently reading some news from around the world when I came across something very interesting on BBC News.

A Nordic tradition where children take their nap outside in the snow. You read right outside in the snow!

Here is the full article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21537988


I do feel that children need to get lots of fresh air and time outside but napping in the snow seems a bit crazy to me. While they are in a warm area called a pram it still seems a bit dangerous to me. There is plenty of time for children to be outside when they are not napping.

Everyone around knows that the children are sleeping outside. Have any of these children been kidnapped? This is something I would worry about. You have all these children throughout neighborhoods sleeping outside. There are some pretty sick people out there who would go in there and steal these children to work in factories and other places. I would not want to risk it.

The article states that the children are less likely to catch coughs and colds by sleeping outside than being inside with the rest of the class. I work in a daycare now and we do go outside frequently. I feel the more you are around colds and germs the stronger your immune system becomes. I know if I am outside in the cold for a long period of time I start to get stuffy.

This tradition has been going on for a very long time and they all swear it works and is better for the children but I still have some doubts.

I know personally I would never have my children sleep outside in freezing cold temperatures.

Camp

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend! I know I did. I went up to camp. 

This camp really got me thinking this weekend because of the large amount of children that were there. These children were outside playing from the time they got up until it got too dark to see outside. They were running up and down the streets, riding their bikes, going to all of the different parks, swimming (even though it was only in the upper 60's), walking their pets, and playing baseball or basketball. They were all ACTIVE!! Earlier this month I talked about childhood obesity and how children need to exercise more. Even though every trailer up at this camp has television access these children were outside playing with other children having a wonderful time. 

I think this is a great experience for the children who were there and who will be going there all summer long. It allows them to see just how much fun they can have without electronics.