Cooperative Living January 2016 - 34

Kids'Korner | by Anne M. Dellinger, Contributing Columnist
A Closer Look at Winter
Activities and Ideas to Get Through the Season of Short Days and Snow
Light Matters
he days are short,
the sun a spark,
hung thin between,
the dark and dark.
- " January " A Child's Calendar, 1965 by John Updike
In only 15 words, this brief poem pretty much sums up
winter ... the season that is greeted with anticipation by some
and dread by most everyone else.
For you and your school-age friends, winter can be an
exciting time of year, especially when a snow day falls out of
the sky. The cascading snowflakes carry the possibilities of
school closings, sleeping-in late, and snow play. YAY and
YESSSS!
Your parents, on the other hand, may groan a bit as the
ground turns white. Since they are the ones who must cope
with winter's many challenges, their grumblings are certainly
justified. When was the last time that you had to worry about
a car that wouldn't start, or black ice, or frozen water pipes or
childcare?
One person's winter joy is another's winter woe!
Short Days/Long Nights
Re-read that catchy little poem
above, line by line.
Is that how you would describe
winter in January?
If you're not sure, take a closer look at a
typical winter day.
You can expect
to experience about 9½
hours of weak sunlight, IF, the sky is
not overcast (based on 38 degrees
latitude in January). Compare that with 14½
hours of brilliant sunshine in the middle of June!
During the early morning, as you and your family prepare
for school and work, do you sense that
everything seems dim, gray and dusky?
Maybe even dark and dreary?
And in the evening, do you notice the
day ending with a brief nightfall that
quickly turns to inky blackness? It's like
a light switch being flipped OFF, just as
folks are coming home from jobs and after-school activities.
Winter's comings and goings happen in shades of
blackness.
Going to work and
school in the morning
The poet got it right, didn't
he? A winter day really is brief,
dim and dark at both ends!
32 | Cooperative Living | January 2016
Coming home after work and
school in the evening.
The poem makes no reference to the bad news associated
with fewer hours of daylight. Less light has been proven to
negatively affect a person's sleeping habits, energy levels and
ability to concentrate. For some it causes mood swings and
irritability.
So, if you and your classmates are feeling tired, grouchy
and distracted, encourage your teacher to take the class
outside to catch some sun rays. Remind him/her that getting a
good dose of natural light is healthy. If you mention Vitamin
D, serotonin and melatonin benefits, you might even get some
extra credit for being up to date on scientific findings! And
that's always good news!
" Cozy up " to Winter
To truly enjoy the winter season, you must keep warm. A
familiar quote says, " There is no such thing as bad weather,
only inappropriate clothing. "
Winter's frosty air means layer-up. If you become too hot
later on, peel off a jacket, vest, etc. Don't forget to cover your
head, fingers and toes.
Once properly dressed, you'll like spending more time
outside. On school
closing " snow days "
and chilly weekends,
participate in every
outdoor opportunity
that comes your way.
Follow the snow up a
hill with sleds, tubes
and friends. If you
have a chance to ski,
snowboard,
snowshoe or ice
skate, do it! These
super active ventures
will keep you outside for hours!
Snow or No Snow, Get Out and Go
Not everyone gets to play among
those delicate six-sided ice crystals,
however. Depending on where
you live, and the seasonal
weather patterns, your winter
may be snowless. That's no
excuse to stay inside. If you do,
you won't experience the things that
set this season apart from the other three.
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T
KIDS! CLIP AND KEEP YOUR KIDS' KORNER COLUMNS IN A THREE-RING BINDER AND YOU'LL HAVE A NOTEBOOK CHOCK FULL OF FUN IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE FUTURE!

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Cooperative Living January 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living January 2016