The windy day got TPP to pondering on how people and animals appear to be quite skittish on windy days. So TPP decided to have a wee look into this to see if it is a real thing or not. This is what TPP found…
There is no definitive answer when it comes to people’s behaviour and windy days.
Many teachers, childcare workers and parents will tell you that children are harder to handle on windy days as they are for more energetic – they run around and jump more. They also seem to have difficulty sitting still for very long on a windy day.
There many theories around why this is, but no real factual evidence that it is actually a phenomenon.
Some of the theories say it is to do with changes in barometric pressure, which can have an effect on your body. Dr. Maria Simonson of Johns Hopkins noted that a falling barometer results in an atmosphere that pushes down on the body, constricting capillaries that causes a reduction of oxygen to the brain, possibly resulting in children’s behaviour changes.
It is noted that different seasons and weather conditions do change peoples moods. For example a nice, warm sunny day tends to make a person feel happier and more settled, whereas a cold, rainy days tends to make a person feel more irritable and restless.
Now when it comes to animals and windy weather there is a some more information than with people. But the behaviour change is related to the animal. For example:
- birds sing less on windy days
- it is said that strong wind can agitate dogs because those winds can bring unfamiliar smells to your dog when they are in familiar territory. This can cause them stress or eagerness to find out where/what the new smell is. Both reactions make the dog appear more energetic on a windy day.
So many things to ponder on from this for your homework today. But start with how you feel on a windy day:
- do you enjoy being out in the wind
- does it clear the cobwebs inside you
- does it make you feel grumpy or restless or
- are windy days something you don’t want to go near
Ponder away!
