As the fall season air settles in and the first frosts appear, nature transforms outdoor play environments into opportunities for new discoveries. For early learners, being outdoors contributes to discovering and experiencing seasonal shifts only available outdoors. For example, children are unlikely to discover the magic of frost indoors, even through stories, because frost is a natural sensory experience that requires direct interaction within the environment. Frost is associated with magical moments with children.
Magical Moments with Frost and Sticks
First, let’s explore frost. For young children, frost can be viewed as a dazzling introduction to nature’s changing water cycle concepts. Children might discover the shimmering, thin layer of ice crystals on surfaces when water vapour in the air freezes, coating everything from grass to rocks, to playgrounds with a fine white/grey sheen. Frost can create intricate, lace-like patterns, especially on smooth surfaces. However, when frost is touched, it melts quickly which gives it a fleeting, almost magical quality. This natural wonder contributes to children’s science knowledge such as: phase changes – how water transitions from a solid (ice) to a liquid (water); temperature – the temperatures that cause freezing and what contributes to melting; evaporation – how frost melts into water and then can evaporate; and sun’s energy – how the heat from the sun can be a source of energy, causing frost to melt and the water evaporate.
Then imagine the play possibilities when children combine sticks with frosty things during their outdoor play. Think about how both the sticks and frost on a rock can become a sensory experience. Sticks support children in interacting with frost in a tactile way, such as drawing patterns on frosty surfaces or using them to scrape frost from leaves, rocks, or pavement. As children try to figure out how to balance a stick-on end or try to capture the frost before it melts, they expand their critical thinking skills and experiment with cause and effect.
The textures and temperatures of frost and sticks offer unique sensory contrasts, as they experiment with the properties of frost, such as how messages can be scrolled on frost items or how frost melts when brushed away versus when it remains whole on an object. Sticks and frost contribute to children acquiring new vocabulary around weather, seasons, and the environment. Combining these two natural materials contributes to children merging nature-based discoveries in science with physical interactions.
Role Modeling the Joy of Finding Frost
When preparing to go outdoors, adults can role model wonder and curiosity with children by sharing their ideas about the new possibilities that could be discovered. Then, when outdoors and they find something covered with frost, they pause to admire the delicate crystals. A simple comment, like “Look at how the grass sparkles!” draws children’s attention to the frost, encouraging them to slow down and observe. By crouching down and gently touching the frost, adults and children can experience how it feels different from dew, inviting children to experience the chilly, fragile sensation for themselves. This kind of active, engaged exploration models to children the small natural wonders, sparking a shared sense of awe.
As adults share what they notice—perhaps how frost forms on certain leaves but not others, or how its patterns resemble lace—they introduce children to deeper thinking about the natural world. Posing questions like “Why do you think frost only forms when it’s really cold?” “How would you describe what frost looks like?” “How does it differ from a piece of ice?” “What does frost feel like?” “What happens if you blow warm breath onto it or press a warm hand against it?” “Does frost look different on a flat surface than on a leaf or a stick?” “Why does frost melt faster than an ice cube?” prompts children to consider new questions and create ideas from previous experiences. By inviting children to investigate, like examining sticks to see if the frost is the length of the stick or watching the frost slowly melt when the sun comes up, adults encourage critical thinking and patience, showing that nature is full of mysteries waiting to be unravelled.
In these moments of discovery, adults can model how to cherish fleeting beauty. By explaining that frost appears only under certain conditions and won’t last long, adults highlight the importance of being present and appreciating the magic while it’s here. This sense of wonder, paired with the excitement of finding something temporary and unique, helps children understand the value of slowing down and engaging with their environment. In this way, the act of discovering frost together becomes a lesson in mindfulness and then using sticks offers new ideas of looking closely at the environment.
Final Thoughts
Fall is a season of transition, and with it comes countless opportunities for outdoor play and new discoveries. Frost and sticks—simple, natural elements—offer children new possibilities for exploration, creativity, and learning in ways that can’t be achieved indoors. By embracing the magic of the season, children and adults can co-investigate many elements of nature that will last well beyond the first frost.
Read our article on How Outdoor Play Fosters Risk Management Skills in Children
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