Prince William + Kate Middleton vow to parent like the Swedes—here’s why

If February in Scandinavia doesn’t scare you into hunkering down inside, then you can handle just about anything—and that’s one lesson Prince William seems to be taking from his state visit up north.

“The Swedish love the outdoors,” Prince William said during a dinner reception in Sweden, Express reports. “The way you embrace your climate and environment and are committed to ensuring future generations can do the same; the fact that you do so when it is so cold is really inspiring.”

After witnessing that all-seasons love for nature first-hand, Prince William vowed to apply it to the way he parents Prince George, Princess Charlotte and their sibling on the way.

“One lesson that we will take home with us is that children are actively encouraged to spend time outdoors, whatever the weather,” Prince William said. “This is obviously very good for their physical health but, as we learnt this morning at the remarkable Karolinska Institute, it has huge benefits for a child’s mental health as well.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave the Royal Palace of Stockholm for Stortorget Square, accompanied by Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel 🇸🇪#RoyalVisitSweden

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Jan 30, 2018 at 11:17am PST

It’s true that a little cold doesn’t stop children in Scandinavia from getting outside. As Swedish-born author Linda Åkeson MGurk recalls of her childhood:

In contrast, a recent report from the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics found British children only spend an average of 16 minutes outside each day.

Prince William’s proclamation could go a long way to reversing that trend—and, in turn, improving the health of children: Multiple studies have linked time outside with lower rates of ADHD, depression and anxiety among kids.

So, what’s stopping many of us? Right now, probably those frigid temperatures Prince William mentioned. But, here’s the good news: There is rarely such a thing as it being too cold outside, just being too underdressed.

So invest in some good coats, mittens and hats—and go remember how much fun can still be had outside during winter months. ⛄️