What happens to human bodies in the cold? And, what can we do to keep our littlest ones safe when playing outside in the winter?

What happens to human bodies (esp kids) in the cold? 

When we're out in the cold, our brain sends a message to the rest of our body to gather blood in our core/torso area. This happens in order to protect and keep our vital organs warm. While this is a great response (called thermoregulation if you find this stuff interesting like me), it also means that our extremities get less blood and oxygen. Our muscles will tire more easily and may feel more "stiff", and this is pronounced in children since they have less body fat and muscle mass, both insulators and heat producers. Additionally, when blood flows towards our centers and our veins and arteries narrow, it can slow down information processing. So, if you notice your child seeming slightly "zoned out" or as I said before, not as engaged as usual, this is a probable cause. (If your child ever becomes lethargic and/or seems very zoned out, it's time to go inside (and have some hot chocolate)! 

So, what can we do to keep our littlest ones safe when playing outside in the cold?  

It is of course not news to you that it's most important to bundle up and remember that our children's bodies will likely feel colder than ours because of their size and lower muscle/fat mass. It's better to come wearing too much and take things off as needed than starting out class a little cold. Next, we should allow our kids more time to move through physical activities, and I recommend NOT taking part in any physical activities that require extreme muscular stretching and/or contorting. Since their muscles aren't as warm/limber, injuries can occur more readily in cold weather. Third, if our children seem to need more info processing time for motor planning and learning while outdoors when it's cold, we should give them this extra time and offer them more help/ spotting than usual for safety.