I think it's important for kids to be outside every day to be active. My DS runs without stopping the entire time we're at the park; I guarantee he's warmer than me.

Apropos that: can someone suggest good mittens that a 2-year old won't kick off? We went through three pairs with no success. I feel like a bad mom for letting him out with bare hands, but what can I do??

Anonymous wrote:It's 20 degrees out today. The high is 25. It's one thing to be out for a short period of time, 10 mins maybe, but I feel like any prolonged length of time, it's just too cold. When I was a teacher we had rules about going outside. It had to be 40 degrees or warmer. I personally feel like 35 or so is good cutoff and any colder there shouldn't be any long periods of outside time. Especially today.. Thoughts?

I would play outside when I was little during days that the highs were only in the teens. If you bundle up for the cold and watch tv/listen to the radio for warnings about the cold (they will tell you when it is not safe to stay outside exposed for more than 10-15 minutes), then the kid will be fine. I would play outside for hours. Your kid will definitely survive for 30 minutes unless you are sending them out in just a winter jacket without a hat, scarf, mittens, and maybe even snow pants (snow pants are great for winter playtime if it always get pretty cold and snowy out). 40 degrees is an insane cutoff. For most areas, they would never go outside all winter long if using that temp! My school would only keep us inside if it was so cold there were frostbite warnings in effect, otherwise it was recess outside during the day as usual. We had 2 @15 minutes, 1 in the morning and one in the afternoon, as well as 30 minutes at lunchtime (after eating inside). We were all fine.

Anonymous wrote:It's 20 degrees out today. The high is 25. It's one thing to be out for a short period of time, 10 mins maybe, but I feel like any prolonged length of time, it's just too cold. When I was a teacher we had rules about going outside. It had to be 40 degrees or warmer. I personally feel like 35 or so is good cutoff and any colder there shouldn't be any long periods of outside time. Especially today.. Thoughts?

Haha! When it is 35 out here (MN), my MB says it's "so nice out", and I agree! Obviously, that's compared to standard winter temps here, but still. Like some PP's said, as long as kids are bundled up correctly, they will be fine! I think it also depends on wind chill, too; that can make a huge difference. PLUS, you have to take into account that kids will most likely be running around and getting their blood pumping more so than you (if ages 2+), and that makes them a ton warmer as well.

Yeah 25 is cold but if you bundle up you'll be juuuuussst fine. Use your head!

I'd be happy with 25 degrees, today in Chicago it's -20 with the windchill i will Leo my charge in today but go out for sure when it's 25

Well luckily for me the parents decided it is too cold and they'd rather the kids go to an indoor gym instead. Sounds good to me.

I think that outdoor time in cold weather should be at the parents discretion. I agree that age does play a factor. My charge is 1 year old and both his parents and I agree that anything 40-45+ is good for spending extended periods of time outside. If it is in the 30's or high 20's then it is 5-10 minutes of outside time tops, primarily for him to get some fresh air. Please keep in mind that he is only 1. We live in PA and so these last few days temperatures have been below 20. In frigid weather like this we keep in inside and try to plan fun indoor activities.

For older kids, in my own personal opinion I think that anything 20-25+ they should be fine outside for extended periods of time but it is very important to make sure that they are dressed appropriately. If the temperature is in the teens or below I would probably to outdoor time in short intervals. At that temperature, I don't even want to be outside!

Anonymous wrote:I nanny for twin 20 month olds and we live in RI. We got about 5" of snow last night and its 20 degrees out today and very windy. I definitely won't b pe taking them out today.

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I nanny for twin 20 month olds and we live in RI. We got about 5" of snow last night and its 20 degrees out today and very windy. I definitely won't b pe taking them out today.

I don't want ME outside in this cold. The parents know how I feel about it but don't care apparently. In the past the little boy has complained about the cold but mom and dad still want him out there, and then it wasn't nearly as cold as today.

You said in your past that you personally feel that 35 degrees is a good cut off. This is ridiculous. Why can't you bundle up? A hat, scarf, gloves, warm coat, and warm pants will do the trick. Long underwear is actually a great thing. You would be amazed at how warm you will be with a good hat and long underwear.

I'm miserable on cold days in my professional clothes. Try walking between buildings wearing a skirt and pantyhose. If I am dressed appropriately its a completely different experience.

The rule of 40 degrees wasn't made by me, it was a school rule. And I should've said I think snow is a different circumstance.

The activity would include quite a bit of walking outdoors. At least 30 mins one way, could be longer.

I don't want ME outside in this cold. The parents know how I feel about it but don't care apparently. In the past the little boy has complained about the cold but mom and dad still want him out there, and then it wasn't nearly as cold as today.

It's 20 degrees out today. The high is 25. It's one thing to be out for a short period of time, 10 mins maybe, but I feel like any prolonged length of time, it's just too cold. When I was a teacher we had rules about going outside. It had to be 40 degrees or warmer. I personally feel like 35 or so is good cutoff and any colder there shouldn't be any long periods of outside time. Especially today.. Thoughts?

You think anything below 40-35 degrees is too cold to be outside? Your poor students and charges will never get to play in snow!! Good grief. There are plenty of children in numerous states farther north than us that have fun playing outside in the cold. There should be law that disallows principals and teachers from canceling recess when its 40 degrees outside. The poor kids have to stay in their classroom and get no physical activity.

Frostbite or hypothermia only occurs with windchill factors or when the child has been outside long enough and not well dressed for their core temp to start to drop.

Bundle them up and go outside for several 20 minute increments if you are freaked out by the cold but there is no reason to hide inside.

Depends on ages, activity, and if the children are properly dressed for the cold. (Most are not.)

It's 20 degrees out today. The high is 25. It's one thing to be out for a short period of time, 10 mins maybe, but I feel like any prolonged length of time, it's just too cold. When I was a teacher we had rules about going outside. It had to be 40 degrees or warmer. I personally feel like 35 or so is good cutoff and any colder there shouldn't be any long periods of outside time. Especially today.. Thoughts?