Mary Holland, in her indispensable tome Naturally Curious, describes January as a month of endurance in the natural world. For parents who want to raise “wild children” (“wild” in the good sense as grounded in the life blood and ways of knowing of the natural world), it can be a challenge to get your kids outside. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s icy, and when you don’t have a lot of snow, as we haven’t had in New England so far, we need to come up with other creative ways to draw children out into the delights of winter.
January sixth is the Wolf Full Moon, and January 21st is the New Moon. January is a wonderful time to go on “destination hikes,” the top of a mountain, a secluded pond, a hidden waterfall, a new area you haven’t been to, or an old favorite that will look entirely different stripped of its summer finery and reduced to an elemental, spare beauty. Birds that overwinter ( cardinals, crows, bluejays,, woodpeckers, black capped chickadees, among many others) all shine in the grey, white, black,evergreen colors of winter. (https://learnbirdwatching.com/winter-birds-in-connecticut/ ). Trees in winter invite children to explore them in new and enticing ways. Tree structure, roots, branching patterns, bark, dormancy, evergreen trees, the natural history of trees, trees as animal homes, and experiencing the calm abiding presence and “wisdom” of trees, are all invitations to play, curiosity and wonder for children and adults alike.
Get the right clothes for you and your children. The winter “onesies” work well for young children (3-8). Make sure things fit because it makes everything easier. Winter boots are different from rain boots, but rain boots can work in a pinch with warm socks (waterproof is what is key). Mittens and gloves are the biggest hassle. Just experiment, in the store, until you find something that stays on your children and keeps their hands dry. Also, anticipate whether the child is going to want to use their fingers and choose mittens or gloves accordingly, with the full expectation that young children have a hard time manipulating bulky gloves. I say all this acutely aware that winter clothes cost money and that it’s not easy to pay for all this stuff. So if you do have some extra money find a way to get some winter clothes to families that might not be able to afford them!
Whatever you do keep the kids moving: walking, hiking , climbing, building big structures with fallen branches and sticks, sledding, skiing, skating, playing outdoor sports like football or soccer ( remember the ground can be frozen and hard). Look for animals that are out and about in winter like squirrels and deer, and play animal detective by finding animal tracks and other kinds of animal signs. When you get back home, enjoy the pleasures of warming up and resting with hot chocolate, cider or tea, and rejuvenate by telling stories, watching movies, playing board games, making art, doing homeschool chemistry projects, and cooking together. Don’t forget the night sky. With it still getting dark very early, it’s a good time to explore the stars and the moon, space, and space exploration. I love reigniting my childhood passion for Estes Rockets this time of year by building some model rockets with my children.
Jan 16th is Martin Luther King Day which is a great day to explore and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil RIghts Movement. Just like in the natural world, January is a tough month for a lot of people. Food security, housing, heat, the social isolation and fear around Covid, all demand social action and can be spurs to figuring out, with our children, how we can make a better society for everybody. One of my school children’s favorite “forgotten” verses of This Land is Your Land” is,
In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the welfare office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?
The Lunar New Year, which is celebrated in different ways by many different cultures (Chinese New Year, Korean New Year, Vietnamese New Year), is an important and exciting time for many people as they reflect on the past year, make plans for the new one, and take part in great cosmological cycles and patterns. For people who have been raised outside of these cultures, learning about and participating in Lunar New Year activities can be a bridge between cultures, and a useful path to creating diverse and dynamic, multicultural communities.
Maria Montessori opened her first school in Italy in January of 1907. Her deep respect for children as whole, autonomous learners who are naturally curious about the world, and her evolving understanding of teaching and learning continue to have an impact on progressive pedagogies throughout the world. ( https://www.mcssb.org/the-10-principles-of-montessori). In terms of storytelling, I like to focus on origin stories from around the world to coincide with the new year. January birthdays of the authors of Winnie the Pooh, Dr. Doolittle, The Lord of the RIngs, and one half of the Brothers Grimm give us a rich tapestry of stories and fairytales to draw on. Lynne Cheney is an extraordinary nature writer and illustrator, who is the author of such gems as “The Great Kapok Tree” and “A River Ran Wild.” January is a wonderful time of year to get out in nature, learn about the cultural traditions with which we can make sense of the world, and retreat into the warmth of hearth and home as we take time to rest, rejuvenate and renew our lives.
