Does your preschool make kids go outside in the cold?

[Anonymous]

Make them go out? The kids WANT to go out. I appreciate the fact that they are getting fresh air. Would you rather raise a wimp, who complains when the temperature is below 40 degrees?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, in NW DC yesterday morning it was 30 degrees with 15-16 mph wind. As the director I checked the weather app on my phone and a few other teacher's phones. Then went outside (for my own "real feel" and was nearly bowled over by the wind. So our kids (preschoolers) stayed inside until yesterday afternoon when the temp went up to 36 degrees AND the wind died down. Then they were outside for 30 minutes - our playground is less windy but not fully protected from wind.

We use a chart from Child Care Weather Watch that I've attached a copy of - it's about the wind chill and temperature combined. (and in the summer it's about heat index, humidity.... there are times when it's not safe to take kids outside, then you have to think about the air quality, too...)

We go outside most of the time - and I have sent an email (and will continue to) about bringing hats, mittens, gloves, winter coats, dressing for the weather, snowpants in snow, and that we go outside in all weather. But we still won't take kids out in this biting cold with severe wind chills.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/3b/19/48/3b194871a04aa7d9b6f76b9ea0b83528.jpg

Hope this helps! Our teachers are disappointed when our kids can't go outside, as they of course need fresh air and to MOVE. But when the wind gets going it's not a good idea.

Why? What will happen?

When the wind blows 15-20 mph and it's below freezing, we get something called wind chill - making it much colder than the temperature. And for young children who can't regulate their bodies as well as adults can, and who won't wear their freaking mittens, and who also have a hard time running when all bundled up, it gets really cold, really fast. So in the afternoon we limited it to 30 minutes on that day (Tuesday)

Today (Wednesday) our kids were all outside an hour, twice a day - it was 30 or 32 or whatever, but no wind and there was also sun -it was gorgeous and everyone had fun outside!

Infants to 3 years olds have a hard time in all those clothes, being able to also climb the stairs, the ladder, using mittens to pick up the shovel, etc. Children 3 to 5 years old have an easier time, but we still need to worry about wind chill. We use the chart (which if you notice the fine print as done in the midwest where it's colder than here).

As the director, I find that parents here (I'm from New England, so I do know cold, and cold & snowy) just don't dress their children all that well and their kids get cold. Heck, the adults are still wearing short sleeved shirts under their winter coats and wondering why they are so cold - wear a long sleeved shirt, it's winter!

Look, I'd love to go outside all day all summer, but it can get dangerous for "sensitive people" when the humidity and temperature are both high and/or when the air quality is horrible - and kids are "sensitive people" - at least children in preschools/childcare centers are, who are by definition are 5 years of age and younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make them go out? The kids WANT to go out. I appreciate the fact that they are getting fresh air. Would you rather raise a wimp, who complains when the temperature is below 40 degrees?

Exactly. My sons full day kindergarden goes out for recess twice a day for 30 min. I am SO glad that they do, the kids need it. They constantly send home reminders to send the kids with gloves/hats etc, and when it snows, snow pants and boots as they go play in the snow/sled. I'm so grateful that they have willing and able teachers who encourage active play for young kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Make"? My kids love to play outside in any weather.

Exactly. We specifically picked a preschool that took the kids out in all weather. They have rain and Snowboots that stay there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our preschool makes kids play outside even when it is freezing. My older child's elementary school does not go outside if it is cold.

I think for a lot of places, if it is technically below freezing (32 degrees or lower), they keep them in. I know earlier this week my son didn't go out in the morning when it was still in the 20s but they went out in the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC licensing requires an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon--even in the cold. It's good for them. Kids in Alaska certainly don't stay inside all winter.

I have relatives in Anchorage and, in fact, kids go outside all year round. I think they have an "as long as it is above zero we go outside" rule. Kids have no problem and it is important up there for people to be outside while the sun is out.

My relative said that teachers of young kids have a really tough job of bundling up/unbundling the kids every day.

Kids were happy to be outside yesterday at the DC school where I work.

I would imagine people living in Alaska have the appropriate outdoor gear to put their kids in for extreme colder temps. In the DC area, not everyone takes those steps. Hell, half the kids in my school had short sleeved shirts on earlier this week!