'In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
'I don't like having my birthday in March'. So began a conversation with a young man 'nearly five' when he explained what is wrong with his world.
I have always considered that hibernation is really the way to cope with the short days and long nights of our northern winters. Lack of sunlight is always rather depressing and midwinter's day in December is a real turning point.
In years gone by, British children spent their days bundled up in layers of clothes and were hampered in their movements. Things have changed; too many children are inadequately clad for low temperatures and adults seem to have little understanding of children's vulnerability to hypothermia.
Schools seem to collect quantities of good quality coats and waterproofs to enable children to access the outdoors, both for curriculum purposes and traditional playtimes. Parents and carers seem to be unsure of the whereabouts of their own children's unlabelled clothing and disappearances are rife.
Through the child's eyes this seems largely unimportant. Lack of warmth and the inability to move quickly are far more likely to have an impact.
Can we go outside today? Thankfully, the answer is likely to be yes, and many children enjoy the outdoors all year round, as long as we can supply the right clothing to enable this to happen.
The current spate of extreme weather conditions have provided an opportunity at first hand to experience the power of the storm. Children protected inside a solid 100-year-old building were shocked to experience the strength of the wind when they finally were met by parents at the end of the school day.
This is something new and unfamiliar. Talking about the day's weather was a comforting pastime in my infants school all those years ago. Maybe with the current changes in the world's weather, seen daily on our TV screens, we should resurrect this activity in schools?
It would be reassuring to remind ourselves of the benefits of our seasons and to celebrate the winter months for what they represent. Having my own birthday in February has always given me a little bit of a summer glow in the middle of a grey month!
Pat Wills is headteacher at Claremont Community Primary School and Centre of Excellence in Blackpool
