Outdoor Playtime In The Winter

[SSWonders]

Very helpful information. I am really confused because my licenser says that I need to take the older kids out even if it is too cold for the kids under two. When I asked her how I am supposed to do that, she said I could either let the older kids including my two year old go outside by themselves or leave the little ones indoors by themselves and just take a monitor out with me.

That's crazy!!! Neither one is a safe situation! We have to be with the kids at all times. None can be left alone unless they are school age. Eegads!

[Neekie]

She told you to leave awake children alone in your house!?!? Or let a 2 year outside alone!?!? That is insane!!!!

Yes, this is what I was told. Wisconsin law says that the kids have to be within sight or sound at all times. Well, if I let all my kids ages two and up go outside alone, I would not be in either sight or sound. The storms are on our windows now and so I can't open windows to hear them and I can't see all areas of my playground from the windows. And usually in the winter the windows frost up and I can't see out of them at all. And my day care is on the second floor. I do not have easy access to them if something should happen out there. And even if they were to play nice and safe, I would worry about them being abducted or something. We live in the middle of a city and not in the best of neighborhoods. It is safe for the most part, but we have had stuff happening on our street. And leaving the toddlers inside alone would not be a good idea either even if they are sleeping and even if I have a monitor with me. Stuff just happens to fast for me not to be able to get to them in a split second. And what if there is a fire and the toddlers are inside on the second floor alone. There is absolutely no way that I will ever leave these kids all by themselves.

[Neekie]

I pm'd you. As far as non-walking I will still use the stroller. My neighbors keep their walks really clear. I will only have one non-walker. I also have a wagon with a seat belt. It's easier to pull than push! I do think it could get tough, as sometimes my backyard is all ice and dangerous! It was last year. My licensor told me just take them out and walk around the house. That would be fine.

LSKids, I can't seem to find your private message. I don't know if it didn't go through or what happened.

[Neekie]

That's crazy!!! Neither one is a safe situation! We have to be with the kids at all times. None can be left alone unless they are school age. Eegads!

I agree!

[Neekie]

Thank you everyone for your answers. You each had something to say that was helpful to me in this situation. I appreciate it and I am going to try your ideas. And Micheal, I read the other threads that you sent me and I got many helpful thoughts and ideas from them also. Than you again!

[Lavender]

I live in the Buffalo area and my kids are mobile infants (about 8-18 months). I will NOT be taking them out when the weather is cold enough to require serious bundling. My outside time is the first of the day and I don't have any time after breakfast/clean-up/diapers are all done to be bundling 8 infants and still make it out early enough to do much of anything before the next group goes outside.

[Neekie]

I live in the Buffalo area and my kids are mobile infants (about 8-18 months). I will NOT be taking them out when the weather is cold enough to require serious bundling. My outside time is the first of the day and I don't have any time after breakfast/clean-up/diapers are all done to be bundling 8 infants and still make it out early enough to do much of anything before the next group goes outside.

This is my problem too...finding enough time with all the other things that I have to do in a day. And then after we get everyone all bundled up, somebody poops!

[Neekie]

I live in the Buffalo area and my kids are mobile infants (about 8-18 months). I will NOT be taking them out when the weather is cold enough to require serious bundling. My outside time is the first of the day and I don't have any time after breakfast/clean-up/diapers are all done to be bundling 8 infants and still make it out early enough to do much of anything before the next group goes outside.

This is my problem too...finding enough time with everything that I have to do in a day. And then when we get everybody all bundled up, somebody poops!!

Oops! Sorry! This one posted double.