Winter at a Playbased Preschool
January is a time of growth, and the teachers and staff at Playhouse Preschool felt it immediately when the children returned from winter break full of excitement, energy, and readiness for new things. Their play-based learning has become more involved, friendships more complex, and their questions more thoughtful as they dive deeper into exploration. Each child is growing in their own unique way. Some Playhouse parents may have noticed their children express interest in writing their name, experimenting with letters and numbers, or creating more detailed artwork. Other children are showing growing independence—getting dressed on their own, carrying heavy things, or proudly taking on “big kid” jobs. We see all of this unfolding daily in the classrooms, and the children are absolutely bursting with creativity and activity. It’s wonderful to watch them take on new responsibilities and feel genuine pride in what they can now do for themselves.
One of these new responsibilities has been learning to put on snow and cold-weather gear. If you’ve witnessed a pre-school-aged child tackle this process, then you know it’s no small feat! To support them, adults lay out their gear, and after circle time and potty time, the children know to find their things and begin getting ready. With so many cold and snowy days, we’ve had lots of practice. Children who have mastered boots, buckles, zippers, and mittens are now often seen helping their classmates who may still be waiting for a grown-up’s assistance. These moments of peer support are especially sweet—and the children are truly feeling their independence and loving it.
The winter of 2026 arrived with frigid temperatures and plenty of snow, giving us rich opportunities to explore the season and investigate the concept of matter—especially ice. One class began a winter study with a simple hands-on science experiment by freezing cups of water outside overnight. The next day, the children discovered the water had turned solid. As the week went on and temperatures rose, the children observed some of the ice melting back into liquid form. This sparked thoughtful conversations about how temperature affects water and led to deeper exploration of cause and effect across different states of matter.
Snowy days also inspired creativity outdoors. One classroom added watercolor drops to cups of water and took them outside to paint on snow and ice. Using paintbrushes, the children made designs they were incredibly proud of, sharing materials with another class and collaborating on large, imaginative pieces together. Some added woodchips and sticks, turning their artwork into train tracks, trains, and even an ambulance headed to the hospital. Their play was rich, cooperative, and joyful.
As cold weather kept us indoors some days, curiosity naturally turned toward the animal world. Some children began asking how animals stay warm in winter, which led to discussions about hibernation, migration, and adaptation. One classroom read Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and worked together to build a cozy bear cave. The children added glow-in-the-dark stars, created animal tracks, drew hibernating animals, and even made a list of safety rules for visitors. They explored how animals prepare for winter by building up fat, experimenting by placing their hands in icy water, and then trying again with a glove covered in shortening to represent a protective layer. The children shared their observations, built on one another’s ideas, and continued the study by describing what cold really feels like—using words like freezing, numb, and shivery.
We read lots of books, and some of our classes spent time learning about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Kindergarten children began the month by exploring the social justice movement led by Dr. King and Rosa Parks. Through books and historical photographs, they learned how these leaders helped change unjust laws in the United States. The children were deeply impacted by learning that Black and white people were once not allowed to share restaurants or schools. To honor these American heroes, the children mixed custom skin-tone paints and created handprints on fabric, later tying the pieces together to form a quilt representing unity, justice, and change.
Now that January has come to a close, we’re struck by how much growth has already taken place—in independence, curiosity, compassion, and confidence. Even on the coldest days of winter, Playhouse is full of warmth, wonder, and meaningful learning. We’re excited to see where this season of growth leads us next.