Wind Ridge Schoolhouse

Minnesota winter is right around the corner. At Wind Ridge Schoolhouse, a nature preschool in Duluth, 3-6 year olds play and learn outside several hours each day. Director Laura Whittaker has tips for managing winter gear and transitions: "The transition from outside to inside is a busy time for everyone! We reduce transitions by having children arrive in winter gear ready to be outside and by taking warm-up breaks. During warm-up breaks the children stay geared up inside while we tell a story, read a book, have snack, or use the bathroom. Then, when we are warmed-up, we put mittens and hats back on and head outside. Depending on temperatures, we might repeat this outside play, inside warm-up break several times."