Outside Play Temp Limits

[MN Day Mom]

Just curious at what temperature or windchill do you keep the children inside and skip the outdoor play?? Do you have self made guidelines that you use as your own rule??

[Zoe]

Personally, I'm a wimp during the winter, so if it's under 20 degrees (temp, not windchill), I stay in. But that's just me!

[sharlan]

I just refused to let the kids go outside, it's 44*. Anything below 55* and it's a no go.

[melskids]

below 20* here....or above 90*

Sharlan...I had to chuckle. a day at 55 here and its a beautiful day...we'd be outside in tshirts and flip flops...

[sharlan]

below 20* here....or above 90*

Sharlan...I had to chuckle. a day at 55 here and its a beautiful day...we'd be outside in tshirts and flip flops...

I just dressed my grandson in an undershirt, long sleeved t-shirt, and heavy sweat pants for a trip to the zoo, later when it warms up.

[meganlavonnesmommy]

I have licensing regulations that outline outdoor playtime for certain temps.

90 degrees and up, outdoor activity limited to 20 minutes
88-90 degrees, limited to 30 minutes
85-88 degrees, limited to 45 minutes
82-85, limited to 50 minutes
55-82, no limitations
45-55, limited to 45 minutes
35-45, limited to 30 minutes
20-35, limited to 20 minutes
below 20 degrees, no outdoor play

[Lianne]

I have a very scientific way of determining whether we play outside or not. I step out onto my porch. If the first words out of my mouth are "Holy crap, it's cold" then it's too cold to play outside. If I step out and my first words are "Wow, what a nice day" then we go out. It's taken me years to perfect this technique

[Unregistered]

I have a very scientific way of determining whether we play outside or not. I step out onto my porch. If the first words out of my mouth are "Holy crap, it's cold" then it's too cold to play outside. If I step out and my first words are "Wow, what a nice day" then we go out. It's taken me years to perfect this technique

LOL!!!!! That's great! I bet it way more reliable than a temp right?

[Lilbutterflie]

Since it hasn't been mentioned yet; this website has a page on this topic with a chart:

https://www.daycare.com/news/daycare_and_weather.html

[Ariana]

At the centre where I used to work it was to be no colder than -17 celcius for preschool and -10 celcius for toddlers. This is a guideline I use. If we go out and I feel it's too cold then we come in. Today it was 'only' -8 celcius but with the cutting wind it was soooo cold!!

[laundrymom]

I have a very scientific way of determining whether we play outside or not. I step out onto my porch. If the first words out of my mouth are "Holy crap, it's cold" then it's too cold to play outside. If I step out and my first words are "Wow, what a nice day" then we go out. It's taken me years to perfect this technique

This is me!!!!! Also, 40 and calm wind with sun is totally different than gusting wind and cloudy wet skies at 50.

[DCMom]

below 20* here....or above 90*

Sharlan...I had to chuckle. a day at 55 here and its a beautiful day...we'd be outside in tshirts and flip flops...

I had to look and see where you were from when I read that, ! It is a beautiful, sunny 22* here and all my 4's and older are outside playing in the snow

[Meeko]

I just refused to let the kids go outside, it's 44*. Anything below 55* and it's a no go.

LOL Sharlan! We go outside every day unless there's a danger of freezing solid mid motion!

My SIL lives in CA and she makes me laugh when she puts a sweater on when it's warm enough for shorts here!!

Funny how we all have different ideas of cold...or too hot!

[Oneluckymom]

I have a very scientific way of determining whether we play outside or not. I step out onto my porch. If the first words out of my mouth are "Holy crap, it's cold" then it's too cold to play outside. If I step out and my first words are "Wow, what a nice day" then we go out. It's taken me years to perfect this technique

LOL...love this. This is so me!!

[SilverSabre25]

Right now we're barely going out at all because I have yet to see hats or gloves arrive with my dcks. It's chilly enough that I, who hates hats and gloves, am wanting to put them on (mid-30's) and I'm not going to haul the small children out without them. I will be making hats and gloves to stay here just as soon as I get a chance.