How to Read “Children are children of the wind”
Kodomo wa kaze no ko
Meaning of “Children are children of the wind”
“Children are children of the wind” means that children are strong against cold weather and full of energy and vitality. It describes how kids run around and play outside even on days when cold winter winds blow.
This proverb celebrates the abundant life force children possess and their physical toughness that makes them unfazed by cold.
On cold days when adults would want to bundle up and stay somewhere warm, children keep playing outside in light clothing. This expression captures that unique energy and liveliness of children in a positive way.
Today, people often use this saying when they see children playing outside on cold days.
It’s also used to praise children’s healthy appearance or to encourage outdoor play despite the cold. The phrase carries a sense of recognizing and cherishing the natural vitality that children have.
Origin and Etymology
There don’t seem to be clear records about the exact origin or first use of this proverb. However, we can understand its meaning by looking at the expression “children of the wind.”
“Wind” symbolizes cold and sometimes harsh nature. In old Japan, heating systems were limited even in winter, and it was normal for children to play outside in light clothing.
Even in such conditions, children ran around energetically, unfazed by the cold.
The expression “children of the wind” likely means children who play with the wind and children who don’t lose to the wind.
Even on days when adults shivered from cold and wanted to stay indoors, children became absorbed in tag games and kite flying outside.
Adults who watched this were probably impressed by the strength of children’s life force and their liveliness, which gave birth to this saying.
This phrase contains not just observation but also an educational wish that “children should be this way.”
By playing outside without giving in to cold, children build strong bodies. This proverb condenses that parenting wisdom.
Interesting Facts
From a medical perspective, children actually have more active body temperature regulation and higher basal metabolism than adults.
Their energy consumption per body weight is about twice that of adults. This means their bodies naturally generate heat more easily and feel less cold.
This proverb was an observation backed by scientific facts.
Some say this proverb has a continuation. It’s sometimes used as “Children are children of the wind, adults are children of fire,” contrasting how adults prefer to stay near warm fires.
Usage Examples
- My kid runs around outside in short sleeves even in midwinter—truly children are children of the wind
- Wanting to play in the park even on cold days, they say children are children of the wind and it’s really true
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “Children are children of the wind” contains an essential truth about human growth. Why are children strong against cold?
It’s not just about how their bodies work. Children have the purity to become absorbed in the fun right in front of them.
As we become adults, we start worrying about many things. We might catch a cold from the cold weather, changing wet clothes would be troublesome, it might affect tomorrow’s work.
Such worries dominate our minds before we even move our bodies.
But children are different. The fun of playing with friends, the joy of running around, the excitement of new discoveries.
The fulfillment of “this very moment” outweighs the discomfort of cold. This is the pure form of the life force humans originally possess.
This proverb has been passed down for so long perhaps because we adults see something in children that we’re losing.
Living without being bound by calculations or worries, diving fully into the joy before us. This saying quietly teaches us the importance of such a way of living.
The image of children may be a mirror reflecting the brilliance of humanity’s original life force.
When AI Hears This
A child’s body resembles a small high-performance engine. Calculated per kilogram of body weight, a child’s basal metabolism is about twice that of an adult.
In other words, comparing the same weight, a child’s body produces twice the heat of an adult’s.
Here the second law of thermodynamics comes into play. According to this law, when energy is used, some of it always escapes as heat.
Moreover, in life activities, about 60% of absorbed energy is discarded as heat. Children are growing actively, so cell division and metabolism are more intense than in adults.
As a result, large amounts of heat are continuously generated inside their bodies.
The problem is how to discard this heat. With a large engine packed into a small body, if heat dissipation can’t keep up, body temperature rises too much.
So children’s bodies constantly seek “cooling.” Winter’s cold wind isn’t unpleasant for children. Rather, it’s an ideal environment for efficiently discarding excess heat.
Even at temperatures adults find cold, children can run around in light clothing without problem. This isn’t about willpower or energy.
It’s a purely thermodynamic phenomenon where the metabolic flames burning inside their bodies try to release heat outward according to physical laws.
Rather than children being children of the wind, they are small heat engines that need the wind.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of “the power to live in the present.”
In modern society, it’s become normal to plan everything in advance, avoid risks, and pursue comfort.
However, when such attitudes go too far, we may become unable to demonstrate the life force we originally possess.
The sight of children playing unfazed by cold shows that even when unpleasant things exist, people can move forward if there’s joy and fun that outweighs them.
Rather than waiting for perfect conditions, we should enjoy ourselves fully in our current environment. Such an attitude enriches life.
Are you postponing things you want to do because it’s cold, troublesome, or you’re tired?
This proverb reminds us of the mental strength to not lose to a little inconvenience or discomfort.
Like children, we should have the courage to dive honestly into the joy before us.
Comments