Break the Freeze Frame

Long winters keep schools closed and children indoors, but the season can become a time to build life skills, strengthen family bonds, and rediscover the joy of reading.

- Dr. Mushtaq Rather

Winter in Kashmir is often seen as a season to endure, but it can become a season to embrace. It can teach life skills, nurture grit, strengthen families, and spark a love of reading. It can help children grow physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. All it requires is a little imagination, some guidance, and the courage to step beyond the routine of indoor comfort.

Winter in Kashmir is harsh, long, and often unforgiving.

Schools close for nearly three months, cutting children off from classrooms and structured learning.

No other region in India faces such extended breaks, not even when the thermometer climbs to 50 degrees in summer.

Elsewhere, children make the most of school holidays. They join summer camps, explore outdoor activities, and learn skills that last a lifetime.

They move, play, and grow, while in Kashmir, many children spend the break indoors, sedentary, glued to screens.

Why do our children sit idle during months that could be rich with experiences? Why not encourage them to step outside, feel the cold, and discover the world beyond their screens?

Facing the challenges of winter can teach grit, gumption, and grace. On the other hand, keeping children indoors for long stretches can harm their physical health, mental balance, and emotional wellbeing.

Winter does not have to be a pause in life. With guidance, it can become a season of learning, growth, and connection.

One of the most important ways to use winter effectively is by focusing on life skills.