Why Children Love Snow: Neurobiology, Developmental Psychology, and Evolutionary Adaptation The child's love for snow seems like a simple and obvious phenomenon, however, it is a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. It is not just joy from an unusual experience, but a deep, multi-level reaction of a developing organism and personality to a specific environment. 1. Sensory Overstimulation and "Novelty" The child's nervous system is in a state of active formation of neural connections. Snow is an ideal multisensory stimulus that affects several channels of perception simultaneously: Visual channel: The sharp transformation of the familiar landscape. High albedo (reflective ability) creates an unusually bright, "light-filled" picture, even on a cloudy day. The white color, psychologically, is associated with purity, a new beginning. Tactile channel: A unique combination of sensations — from the initial cold to the subsequent feeling of moisture, a variety of textures (fluffy, sticky, prickly snow). Cryophany — the crunch of snow underfoot — provides a powerful kinesthetic and auditory feedback confirming the power of one's own impact on the world. ... Read more