​Surviving the Winter with Enthusiasm

I hear a lot of folks complaining about the winter. They object to the cold, shoveling the snow, ice, and darkness for starters.
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I remember the winter my oldest was 2 ½ years old and her sister was a newborn. We lived in a cabin in the woods, 1 ½ miles from the nearest neighbor. I was suffering from a tad bit of cabin fever. The baby must have been napping at the time and I wanted/ needed to get outside. 

It seemed to take forever to get my oldest into her snow suit, boots, mittens and, and then, of course, she had to go to the bathroom. ​Everything had to come off, then we go through the whole dressing for the outdoors again. Finally, we got outdoors (hoping that the baby was still asleep). I take a deep breath of relief. We made it! Two minutes later, she wanted to go inside. I am not proud of saying that I cried, I pleaded, I begged a 2 ½ year old to stay outdoors longer. I tried every enticement I could think of- a ride on the sled, building a snowman, eating the snow, making snow angels, whatever. I was desperate. It was not one of my shining parenting moments. I believe she won that round finally and we went inside.

I have always loved winter, but parenting young children in the middle of the woods challenged my enthusiasm. But I have hope for those of you who are raising young children in our community.  The River Center has some activities that will help you and your young ones embrace the winter with enthusiasm while also making new friends.

You should know about Mini Explorers. This group meets Tuesday mornings at a different outdoor location throughout our region each week. To join this fun activity, register on our website and each week you will be told the location and directions to get to that week’s activity. It might be at Converse Meadows in Rindge, Gilsum Pond entrance to Mt. Monadnock State Park, MacDowell Dam, Schilling Forest, or Evans Flats trail, to name a few favorite spots. Hot chocolate and hand warmers are provided to keep smiles on those rosy cheeks. On really cold days the activity might only last 20 minutes, but everyone from children to adults enjoys fresh air, exercise, and time with friends new and old.

Wild Wednesdays meets weekly at The River Center’s outdoor play space. Each week the activities focus on different topics based on curriculum for children from the NH Fish and Game.

We are excited about a new collaboration called Little and Wise, Roots and Shoots which meets monthly at RiverMead, giving an opportunity for children, their caregivers and residents to explore trails and share activities together.

Walk and Talk has moved from the Jaffrey Rail Trail to Franklin Pierce University’s Athletic Dome for the cold months. Bring the strollers, let the little ones run and jump, all while visiting with other parents and caregivers.
All these programs provide social time for both children and adults, a chance to talk about solutions to the many challenges of raising children, exercise for all, and the hope of a great nap later. Everyone wins!
And I didn’t even tell you about all the wonderful programs happening indoors: Messy Mondays, Baby Time at New Ipswich Library, Pop Up and Play and Create at several area libraries, See the ABLE Not the LABEL, Tiny Tots Music and Movement, and Troy Toddler Time.

Go to www.rivercenternh.org to learn more and to register for these or other programs.
We don’t just need to just survive the winter months with our families, we can embrace the wonder of winter with enthusiasm!

Margaret Nelson, Executive Director
The River Center Family and Community Resource Center
[email protected]