Snow means play and fun for children whose schools have been canceled due to severe winter conditions.
Drawing attention to the importance of play in children's mental development, experts also stated that cold weather creates a natural defense system in our body and said, "Children learn life through play. Make good use of the holiday and play plenty of games with your children."
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Emel Sarı Gökten from Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital stated that play has a very important place in the mental development of children and that the time spent together with children should be evaluated well due to adverse weather conditions.
REHEARSING LIFE
Gökten said: "Through play, children socialize, relax themselves, process their traumas and rehearse life. However, the time spent with the family is of critical importance in the child's spiritual development. Because the child feels that he/she is loved, valued and approved by his/her family mostly through the activities done together, and his/her feelings of self-confidence and worthiness are reinforced. It will be very beneficial for children's mental health if families take advantage of these days when schools are on vacation due to heavy snowfall to spend time with their children."
COLD WEATHER CREATES A NATURAL DEFENSE SYSTEM
Emel Sarı Gökten stated that cold weather and snowfall have important physiological contributions and said, "Cold weather has an important protective effect on mucus transport. It is a thin mucus cover at the entrance of the respiratory system and acts as a door. It prevents various microbes from reaching the lungs. Cold air increases mucus production and the mucus film becomes thicker and acts as a barrier for germs. Also, when you breathe in cold air, the blood circulation in the nasal wall increases and the nasal tissue swells, making it harder for germs to enter. For this reason, cold air creates a natural defense system."
Gökten added that the microbes suspended in the air fall to the ground with the falling snow and the air is cleaned, adding that the suitable environment for microbes is also disrupted by reducing the humidity rate of snow.