I’m so excited to share this book review with all of you! Why? Because There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather really inspired me to get outdoors, no matter how cold or wet it may be.
There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather
Every fall I struggle with wanting to get outdoors when the weather gets cool. I live near a ski resort in the mountains of Utah, and it gets COLD, especially at night. The extra layers, finding kids’ shoes, pulling out gloves, hats and coats – it makes outdoor adventures just a little more of a hassle.
During this month’s camp cooking challenge, for example, I’ve already had to bundle up in my puffy and gloves while snow flurries fell. I could’ve just given up and made my salmon and potatoes inside, but I had just read There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather
The title comes from the common Scandinavian saying “There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather, Only Bad Clothes.” The premise is that daily outdoor activity is not only possible, but essential, as long as you have the right gear.
I totally agree with that philosophy. Daily time in nature is vital to my health and sanity.
A Scandinavian Mom’s Wisdom
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge) is a mix between a memoir and nonfiction research book. Linda McGurk, author of There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather and blogger at RainorShineMamma.com, is originally from Sweden. She met and married an American and settled in Indiana to raise her two girls.
It wasn’t until her girls were born that she realized just how differently American and Scandinavian parents acted. In Sweden kids are expected to be outdoors every day, rain, shine or snow. As a culture they value friluftsliv or an “open-air life” that revolves around exploring and enjoying nature in a noncompetitive way. Parents allow their children more freedom in outdoor play – both in activities they encourage and in how far from Mom the child can wander.
In America nobody showed up on the playgrounds in winter. She was considered odd for walking everywhere instead of driving. Kids were more likely to be overscheduled with organized sports and after school activities instead of having free time outdoors.
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather discusses these differences, weaving personal narrative with academic studies and research on outdoor benefits for children and families.
Just Let Them Play
My favorite chapter in There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather is the one titled Just Let Them Play. In it, Linda McGurk states that play is essential for a child’s development. Kids learn through play, preferably unstructured, free play.
Achievement-oriented American society often encourages parents to enroll their kids in every extracurricular activity under the sun. Soccer, ballet, music lessons, cub scouts, academic tutoring – while these activities are good, they come at a cost. McGurk writes, “The prevailing idea [in America is] that children are the sum of their weekly activities, and that busiest schedule by third grade wins.”
While classes, sports and activities can be fun and rewarding, overscheduled children miss out on the opportunities provided by free play outdoors.
Parents may sign up their child for karate or dance to give them exercise, but the reality is, children will run, jump, climb and move outdoors often in more health beneficial ways.
One Swedish preschool teacher quoted in There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather states, “Children who spend a lot of time in nature have stronger hands, arms, and legs and significantly better balance than children who rarely get to move freely in natural areas. In nature children use and exercise all the different muscle groups…if only given the opportunity.”
Even with the American emphasis on organized sports, we’re seeing an increase in sedentary behavior in children. Right now America is basically failing at providing enough physical activity for their kids.
The 2016 US Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth gave us a grade of D- for overall physical activity. Their report states that the proportion of U.S. children and youth attaining 60 or more minutes of moderate to vigorous activity at least five days per week is only 43% for children ages 6-11, 8% for kids aged 12-15 and only 5% for children ages 16-19.
Why not encourage more outdoor, free play for our kids and let them move and exercise on their own terms?
Author Interview
I loved all the great tips for raising outdoor kids that Linda McGurk shared in There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather. I wanted you all to learn some ways to raise outdoor loving kids as well, whether or not you bought the book. That’s one reason I asked Linda McGurk to make this video sharing Three Scandinavian Tips for Raising Outdoor Kids.
In it you’ll learn how to Start Them Young, Let Them Get Dirty and Why There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather. It’s a great intro into the mentality around raising outdoor-loving children and gives ideas on how we as parents can create a family culture supportive of outdoor play.
Once you watch this video feel free to come discuss it in the Helping Families Explore Outdoors Facebook Group. In this FREE community we help each other get outdoors with kids. I’d love for you to join.
See You In The Outdoors
However you plan to get outdoors as a family, I hope the tips from There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather help. I know reading the book helped me recommit to exploring nature no matter how hot, cold or wet it may be. I hope it does the same for you!
See you in the outdoors,
~Mountain Mom
PS – I used affiliate links in this post and I was given a free copy of this book for review purposes. Because I know and like RainorShineMamma.com I would’ve bought the book anyway, FYI. And I don’t think it’ll come as any surprise that my opinions are all my own.
