When is your outside time?

[wahmof3]

My outside time is right after the afternoon snack and right before its time to go home. So 3:30-4:30.

I am having a difficult time getting the DCK to transition from outside to go home. They just don't want to leave.

I am thinking about changing to morning outside time BUT the kids get so dirty playing outside and I don't want them to feel yucky for nap. We always wash up after being outside but its not the same.

Just looking for other ideas.

I have also thought of just being outside until 30 minutes before they go home but they are pretty wound up.

[DCBlessings27]

I do outside time right after breakfast. My kids don't really get dirty though, so they're not yucky for nap.

[Country Kids]

We go out anywhere from 8:30-9:30 in the morning and stay till noon.

Then we come in, change into fresh clothes, have lunch and lay down for nap. I have the parents bring a change of clothes for how ever many days they are here for their cubby. 3 days-3 changes of clothes, 4 days-4 changes, etc. Then I take the dirty ones off and wash them and put them back in the cubbies.

We don't always go outside in the afternoon as some children sleep till pick up which all my parents are fine with. Also, if they get wet I don't always have time to change them before parents pick up. So we usually stay in where its cool and play inside.

Now, once cooler weather starts we will be outside more in the afternoon as they don't seem to sleep as much in the winter and we have more time to go out after nap.

[Heidi]

mornings after breakfast and group activity, then again in the afternoon after nap most days.

How about you do a walk in the morning? That way, they don't quite so dirty, but get the excercise.

[SilverSabre25]

Well we have been doing outside play in the AM before lunch but with kindergarten starting next week (PM kindy) we're going to do a walk after lunch to take DD to the bus, then walk after nap to get her off the bus. We'll play outside when we get back--either eating snack outside on nice days or before we leave (when it's cold--I'll send DD in to eat by herself).

[quailsgarden]

We go out around 9am and are out until at least 11am. If the weather is not too hot we will go out again around 4pm until pick up around 5pm.

[Blackcat31]

We go outside at about 10:00 until lunch time and then we go out again after P.M. snack until everyone is picked up.

In the summer time, we are out most of the day, with the exception of meal prepping and nap time, but even then we are outside since I don't have my older ones nap in the summer months.

[Countrygal]

Depending upon the day, the weather and what we have planned, we go out between 8:30 and 9:30 and usually stay out until 11:30. Sometimes it's longer, sometimes it's shorter. Sometimes we have snack outside, sometimes inside. Sometimes we stay in and play and go out after snack. But we are always outside the hour before lunch (weather permitting).

[SquirrellyMama]

When the weather is nice we might be outside all day except lunch and nap. There are some days it is so nice we picnic also. I know others have mentioned not wanting the dc kids to be dirty but mine are as dirty as can be by the time they go home. My own kids are also. I apologize but am usually told, "Don't worry, they look like they have had a great time."

Parents can tell me if they need clean kids at pick up and find cleaner outside activities for them. One time a family was getting pictures taken so I had their child take a bath and we got him dressed in his finery before pick up. They were fine with the bath. They may have even suggested it.

I would err on the side of getting the kids outside over keeping them clean. Have they said they feel yucky at nap time even if they had a sponge cleaning?

I'm not coming down on anyone, I just love my outside time and I know the kids like it to. After a heatwave summer I am reluctant to play inside right now especially come winter we are stuck inside a lot more.

No, I'm not outside right now but my dc kids went home early today and I'm cleaning before a coffee date with a friend. Yay, coffee!

K

[saved4always]

I have to follow the schedule for our center so my kids go out around 11 a.m. before lunch. At this point, they all leave shortly after nap so the teacher who has my kids after nap hasn't taken them out after nap at this point. As we get more kids in the class with later schedules, she may take them out after nap, too. I don't pay much attention to the schedule for after I leave, so I could be wrong about the late afternoon.

[SquirrellyMama]

I have to follow the schedule for our center so my kids go out around 11 a.m. before lunch. At this point, they all leave shortly after nap so the teacher who has my kids after nap hasn't taken them out after nap at this point. As we get more kids in the class with later schedules, she may take them out after nap, too. I don't pay much attention to the schedule for after I leave, so I could be wrong about the late afternoon.

Sure, you have to follow whatever rules are set for you. I think that is why I have such a hard time when I have jobs that require me to follow another's rules. I like setting my own rules. I can't get too mad at myself for not following them

K

[Nickel]

My outside time is schedule for about 1030am for fall. But in the summer it would have to be 8am-10am. After that the yard is in full sun and with highs at 104 or above there's no way I can take them out after lunch. The hottest part of the day here is about 4 or 5. So my own children don't go outside again until around 730-8pm.

Now in fall the weather will get nicer and eventually we will have to do outside time later, but I can't wait till it cools off enough that we can enjoy more time outside!

[saved4always]

Sure, you have to follow whatever rules are set for you. I think that is why I have such a hard time when I have jobs that require me to follow another's rules. I like setting my own rules. I can't get too mad at myself for not following them

K

I don't mind following the schedule really. Although, when it has been so hot this summer, I really would have loved being able to take them out earlier...like 9 a.m.....before the heated part of the day starts. I am getting to that personal summer age so really hot is not my favorite.

[daycarediva]

We go out around 9am and are out until at least 11am. If the weather is not too hot we will go out again around 4pm until pick up around 5pm.

^ exactly this.

[youretooloud]

Ours is from October to May....then sparsely from June to September.

Otherwise, no specific time.