Fact or Fiction- Cold weather makes you sick?

May 15, 2025

It’s starting to cool down and these crisp autumn mornings will soon be cold winter days… but should that stop or limit our outdoor play? Definitely not!

I understand we might think it’s best to keep our children inside as cold weather may cause illness. However, the opposite is true. There are significant benefits of time outside during the colder months, not just for children’s play and development but also their overall health and well-being.

So here are a few points to consider…

❄ Time outside during the cooler months reduces the chance of illness, as spreading germs is more likely in confined space such as indoors.

❄ Exposure to Vitamin D from sunlight supports the regulation of calcium & phosphorus levels in the blood, vital for strong bones & heart health.

❄ Vitamin D also supports immune function as well as reduces anxiety!

❄ When outside the nervous systems is experiencing many varied sensory stimuli, creating new neural pathways and supporting further cognitive, motor & language development.

❄ Children naturally need to move… to explore their environment, engage in large muscle movements, expel energy, take risks… this need does not stop in winter

❄ Engagement with the winter environment becomes a new learning experience… different colours, sights & sounds, temperatures, play & emotions.

❄ Winter play presents a fantastic opportunity for active play. The Australian 24-hour movement guidelines recommend several hours of physical activity each day!

❄ There is no such thing as “it’s too cold” or setting a minimum temperature rule to return inside… outdoor play happens all over the world… even in places where temperatures are below zero.

❄Nordic countries report that children, including babies, nap outdoors even when temperatures reach -16 as the fresh air induces sleep slumber and decreases exposure to germs. Most early childhood centres in Sweden practice this, reporting less illness during the winter months.

As the saying goes …. “there’s no such things as poor weather… just poor clothing”