Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Kuringen, Hasselt, Kindcentrum Straal students take outdoor lessons in the snow this week. Activities include math, gymnastics, and storytime, boosting focus and children’s well-being despite freezing temperatures.
As VRT News reported, in Kuringen, Hasselt, students at Kindcentrum Streal are having lessons outside this week. Under a large tarp, teacher Ms Stien leads a math class while snow falls around the children. They wear coats, scarves, boots, and thermal underwear.
6-year-old Defne says she feels
“a bit cold.”
“It’s warmer inside,” she says, adjusting her earmuffs.”
Her classmate Sianna (6), on the other hand, is enjoying the snow.
“Here we can look at the snow,”
she beams.
“I’m wearing warm clothes, so I’m not cold at all It should happen more often.”
“I’m wearing two coats,”
Eppo says proudly.
“It’s really nice to have lessons in the winter because it doesn’t snow that often. So this is really nice.”
The outdoor lessons last about an hour. After that, the students return indoors to warm up.
“If the weather is really bad, we limit the outdoor lesson to ten minutes,”
explains teacher Stien.
“Then we read together or do short exercises.”
What are Kindcentrum Streal students learning outdoors in Hasselt?
Every morning, teachers plan which students will use the outdoor classroom and at what time. Officials mentioned that the snowy lessons offer more than just math practice. Children experience fresh air and winter surroundings while learning. They also adapt to different conditions and routines.
“We all try to get outside for at least a little while,”
says the teacher.
“For the littlest ones, half an hour is the maximum today, but the older children can easily stay outside for an hour and a half.”
“Research shows that children can concentrate better outdoors.”
Director Wendy Gregoire
Director Wendy Gregoire says the outdoor lessons are more than just fun for the students. She explains that research shows children focus better when they are outside.
“They get more oxygen, move more freely, and feel better while learning,”
she says. According to Gregoire, the outdoor classroom helps children with both learning and physical development.
Kindcentrum Streal has offered outdoor lessons since it opened 5 years ago.
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,”
laughs Gregoire.
“Some children even wear snowsuits.”
“They’re moving around a lot and enjoying the view at the same time,”
he says.
“I get the impression that children get sick less often because they spend so much time outdoors. Plus, the exercise keeps them nice and warm,”
Teacher Rens said.
Rain remains a challenge and sometimesforces teachers to adjust the schedule. According to principal Wendy Gregoire,
“You can dress for the wet, but after a while, that’s no longer pleasant,”
she explains.
“But it never rains all day, so there are always moments when you can go outside. Unfortunately, we’ve also had to move all classes indoors. But with the cold weather like today, thankfully, we can go outside.”
Although Belgium has offered outdoor classes in the past, schools have offered classes outside. In 2018, an international school located in the Sonian Forest, which is just southeast of Brussels, provided outdoor classes to its students. During the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, many schools across Belgium began holding classes outside as a way to prevent the spread of infection among students and teachers.
There are several initiatives throughout Flanders and Wallonia encouraging the teaching of students and the use of the natural world for educational purposes, such as Outside Class Day or Outdoors Class Day programs.
