daycare outdoor time

[Anonymous]

Are there rules for day cares about how much time children spend outdoors? I found information that centers must have an outdoor space and guidelines for temperatures, but do most centers typically have kids out every day, and at what ages? I got a vague response when I was on the tour of the center I am choosing so wanted to check to see if there were guidelines before I follow up. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Ours has kids out every day for at least 30 minutes (I think?) unless the weather is awful, like below 32 degrees, raining hard, etc. It's not "enough" but the regulations make it really cumbersome to take them outside so I get it. All kids must be wearing sunscreen or winter gear, etc. so that's a lot of work for 1 or 2 teachers.

[Anonymous]

Usually it’s 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon. Unless it’s inclement weather such as too cold, too hot, air quality issues, snow or rain. All of that factors in.

[Anonymous]

Ours has a big open field and a playground. The kids are out every day. They also have a big indoor gym for use during bad weather.

[Anonymous]

At our center based one with 150+ kids, they were out 30min a day unless the temperature was below a certain amount or it was raining.

At our much smaller one with 40ish kids, they always had a 30 min recess but were often out much more than just that (picnic lunch, art in the sidewalk).

[Anonymous]

I think the kids are scheduled for 1-2 hours outdoors every day but their standards for acceptable weather at higher than mine (which is fair — they have more kids to manage and must necessarily be risk averse); I make up for this by walking too and from daycare every day we get at least an hour of outdoor time that way. This is a small center (about 20 kids age 0-4), with a covered playground.

[Anonymous]

DC licensing regs:
Each Center serving children in a full-day program shall ensure that each child, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, has a minimum of two (2) hours of outdoor play or outdoor activity each day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there rules for day cares about how much time children spend outdoors? I found information that centers must have an outdoor space and guidelines for temperatures, but do most centers typically have kids out every day, and at what ages? I got a vague response when I was on the tour of the center I am choosing so wanted to check to see if there were guidelines before I follow up. Thanks.

Ours seems very strict about when they will go out. Like if the playground is at all wet they don’t go. That’s the one complaint I have with an otherwise excellent program.

[Anonymous]

Some teachers are pro outside some are not. Last year the teachers rarely took them outside unless it was warm no wind and not a cloud in sight. Annoyed me to no end. On one hand there were a lot of problem behaviors but I know for a fact that being cooped inside all day did not help that.

This year we have teachers who really value outside time I think it's because one of our teachers has four boys. They go outside unless it is actually wet on the playground equipment or if it's under 32°. If it's wet on the playground equipment then they will still do the blacktop or they will go into a really large open room sort of a gym/theatre and have all types of activities set up.

Part of the reason we did a half day is because last year was so bad with lack of outdoor activity we decided to work staggered schedules to make sure our kid gets 2hrs outside a day (minus rain). We still go out in the rain for a walk though.
I know he'll get even less next year in K so we are going to walk to and from school every day. It's a mile total for him so it's something at least.

[Anonymous]

below 32 is nor awful, it is normal for winter temps. if it below 20 than they stay inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there rules for day cares about how much time children spend outdoors? I found information that centers must have an outdoor space and guidelines for temperatures, but do most centers typically have kids out every day, and at what ages? I got a vague response when I was on the tour of the center I am choosing so wanted to check to see if there were guidelines before I follow up. Thanks.

Ours seems very strict about when they will go out. Like if the playground is at all wet they don’t go. That’s the one complaint I have with an otherwise excellent program.

My kid played on a wet playground, slipped, and smashed out two teeth. Kids need a lot of outside time, but this is a good policy.