My parents weren't home when I left for school, from 4th grade on. I considered them good parents, attentive enough. btw

Anonymous wrote:"Send kid"
OP, your words matter. Instead of how you view parenting, in other families, the kid is deciding. Or forgetting. Or is expected to take a coat and doesn't, because they don't want to. The kid may be getting-out-the-door on their own, more independently. Maybe all on their own, parent not home when the kid leaves for school. Greater independence may have a more significant positive result vs the poor decision re: a coat

Poster child for lazy parenting right here. It's your job to make sure your kids get out in the world prepared for the day. It's why they don't live on their own yet.

"Send kid"
OP, your words matter. Instead of how you view parenting, in other families, the kid is deciding. Or forgetting. Or is expected to take a coat and doesn't, because they don't want to. The kid may be getting-out-the-door on their own, more independently. Maybe all on their own, parent not home when the kid leaves for school. Greater independence may have a more significant positive result vs the poor decision re: a coat

Because they don't want to actually parent their kids. They let their kids run roughshod and tell them how things are going to go instead of the other way around.

My 7 year old won't wear a coat. I make him put it in his backpack so the school doesn't yell at me.

School does not have recess when it's below 35 I think. So it doesn't really matter.

I make mine carry them in their backpacks so at least they have one if someone at school insists they need one for recess or extended day. They insist the bus is really hot (though the bus stop is decidedly not).

Anonymous wrote:Mine tried this after arguing with me. The teacher made him go get a coat from the lost and found to be able to play at recess. He won’t make that mistake again.

Our school won't let them have recess either. So it's wear a coat or go to the principal's office (teachers aren't losing break time to babysit).

My kid has her expensive winter coat shoved in her backpack. She insists she’s not cold. At some point children get old enough to start making their own choices.

Natural consequence

Mine tried this after arguing with me. The teacher made him go get a coat from the lost and found to be able to play at recess. He won’t make that mistake again.

I don't wear coats. For ES, I drove my kids back and forth and we left a jacket, gloves and hat at school. I kept an extra in the car. For HS, they don't have lockers and its a pain to carry all day.

I saw a kid outside in short sleeves yesterday. I saw 2 girls at the school bus stop this am wearing very light jackets, no hat, coats or gloves. Some kids won't wear coats for whatever reason. They'll live.

My teen refuses to wear a coat. You can lead a horse to water…

Because they don't want to argue with their kids about it. My 9 year old does not want to wear a coat. I'm not fighting him. A few minutes of being too cold is a MUCH better way to convince him than for me to get into a battle of wills with him about it.

He runs constantly at recess so he is not cold then, even without his coat. On Monday, when it was very cold, I convinced him to take his coat in his backpack on the off chance there was an unexpected drill or similar and he'd need his coat. But those times are really rare.

I'd much prefer he did wear a coat! But I spent time forcing him through tears and upset when he was 4 and 5 and 6. Once he hit 2nd grade I told him the choice is his. I'll make sure he HAS a coat that fits and that he "likes" but the actual wearing it? That's up to him.

A kid in my neighborhood hasn't worn a coat yet this year. I know many kids don't like to wear coats and it's something else to keep up with, but temps are dangerous right now. Even understanding that kids aren't going out for recess, anything could happen (unexpected fire drill/school evacuation; car problems; etc.) I wouldn't question this for weather in the 40s or even upper 30s. But 20 degree weather is way too cold.