Winter is the perfect time to have some fun and strengthen those important executive function skills in children! Executive function skills include things like planning, decision making, problem solving, and impulse control, which can help kids do better in school, make healthier choices, and build better relationships with others. So, let’s bundle up and get outside for some winter fun!
Here are a few winter activities that can help boost children’s executive function skills:
- Snowball toss: This activity can help children develop their working memory and planning skills. To play, children can toss a snowball back and forth, each time taking one step back before tossing the snowball again. This requires children to remember the sequence of tosses and plan their next move accordingly.
- Snowman building: Building a snowman is a fun winter activity that can help children develop their problem-solving skills. Children will need to think logically and plan ahead in order to build the snowman, deciding on the size and shape of the body, selecting the right materials for the eyes, nose, and mouth, and so on.
- Ice skating: Ice skating is another winter activity that can help children develop their executive function skills. Skating requires children to plan and coordinate their movements, and it also helps them develop their balance and coordination. Ice skating can also help children improve their decision-making skills, as they must make decisions about their speed and direction while on the ice.
- Sledding: Sledding is a fun and thrilling winter activity that can help children develop their impulse control and decision-making skills. Children must make decisions about when and where to sled, and they must also exercise impulse control to avoid taking unnecessary risks. Sledding can also help children improve their coordination and balance.
- Winter scavenger hunt: A winter scavenger hunt can help children develop their decision-making skills. Children can be given a list of items to find, such as a pinecone, a red scarf, or a piece of ice, and then they must decide which order to search for the items in and where to look for them.
In addition to the specific activities mentioned above, any winter activity that requires children to think and plan ahead can help boost their executive function skills. It is important for parents and caregivers to provide children with a variety of opportunities to play and learn, and incorporating winter activities that target executive function skills can be a great way to do this. So, grab your hats and mittens, and let’s hit the great outdoors!