From snow to sauna. Unusual trend "toughening up" Russia's youngest citizens

Many Russian kindergartens practice an unusual body-hardening method for children. This consists of children stepping out in their swimsuits and then being doused with cold water by their teachers.

This procedure is intended to strengthen the children's immunity. It's carried out with the consent of their parents. Common practices in addition to water dousing include frequent sauna use and physical exercise. This method has been employed for years in kindergartens such as the one in Krasnoyarsk.

Participation in the hardening program is voluntary, and children who participate must be adequately prepared, both mentally and physically.

The ritual typically starts with a sauna session and physical exercises. This is the initial phase in preparing the body for a frosty trek. The preschoolers then go outside with a bucket filled with cold water. The water pouring lasts a few seconds, after which they return to the building.

The kindergarten administration clarifies that the procedure continues even in freezing weather when outdoor temperatures fall to -4 degrees F.

This kind of cold-water swimming among children has not yet caught on in western countries. In Sweden, however, children play outside even in the rain and severe frost. In contrast, allowing preschoolers in Norway to nap in frosty conditions is fashionable. In such instances, parents ensure their children are appropriately dressed.