Going Outside

[TheGoodLife]

I'm legally license exempt, so I don't have strict regulations, but I was just wondering what policy you follow as to when to stay inside (I"m in NE, so we're used to snow and cold here) I've asked my DCPs of my 9month old to bring a winter coat, and today he comes with a fleece and says they haven't bought one yet and he should be good, but follows with "it's too cold to go out anyway" Um, that's not up to you! Looking to see what temps/ conditions others stay in for. TIA!

[lovemylife]

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

I follow this! My parents have been having a hard time being prepared for outdoor play this winter. Does the 9 month old come in a infant car seat? The days they don't bring a coat could you use the car seat and bundle up with a blanket?

[nothingwithoutjoy]

Unless they say on the weather report to stay inside or risk immediate frostbite, we go out (or if we're on day three in a row of freezing rain and I'm sick of it.) We shorten our time outside on the most miserable days, but we do spend some time out there. Been out already today in the freezing rain, sliding around on the ice.

[kitykids3]

With the wind chill it has to be at least 20 for kids under 2 and at least 0 for kids 2 and older. Looks like we're not going out til at least Friday here. :-(

[Blackcat31]

Unless they say on the weather report to stay inside or risk immediate frostbite, we go out (or if we're on day three in a row of freezing rain and I'm sick of it.) We shorten our time outside on the most miserable days, but we do spend some time out there. Been out already today in the freezing rain, sliding around on the ice.

I follow the same guidelines.

Regardless, EVERYONE has to come prepared to go outside, whether we go or not.

I decide during the day depending on the weather.

[crazydaycarelady]

10 degrees and below and we stay inside. We haven't been outside in a week! It was -22 on Saturday! EEEK!

[Heidi]

Since I have all infants (and one just 2 year old), I am more conservative about the going outside thing. I would LIKE to go out more, and regs say I should, but it's quite a challenge.

Last week Wed it took me 15-20 minutes to get everyone out the door. We went for a walk, which was fine (I have a cart). We moved to the covered front porch when we got back (20 minutes), and it was HORRID! Screaming, crying...3/4 of kids. It was almost 40 out, so not that cold. After 15 minutes, I gave a 5 minute warning and then we came in. It took 15 minutes for everyone to recover from the trauma.

Now that it's snowed, the cart is not an option (not an all-terrain vehicle).

I believe strongly in outdoor play, but I am not sure how to accomplish it. If my licenser showed up and asked about it, I'd go out with her present. Something like "oh, well, as a matter of fact, we were just about to go outside". :: I would not say a word...just let her witness Armageddon for herself.

2/4 of my kids can't walk yet, BTW, and 1 can't crawl yet. It's going to be a loooonnngg winter!

[TheGoodLife]

Does anyone have a "reminder" letter of sorts they'd be willing to share? I want to send something in writing that we will be going outside on most days, and to be prepared each day :-). Unless its a cold advisory I will plan to be outside (now if we actually make it or not... That's another thing ). But I want them to be prepared that I need to do what's best to the group, not just one child!

[nothingwithoutjoy]

Does anyone have a "reminder" letter of sorts they'd be willing to share? I want to send something in writing that we will be going outside on most days, and to be prepared each day :-). Unless its a cold advisory I will plan to be outside (now if we actually make it or not... That's another thing ). But I want them to be prepared that I need to do what's best to the group, not just one child!

There's an outdoor-based preschool/kindergarten near here and I got a look at their parent handbook one time. My favorite part was some hand-drawn and labeled pictures of kids appropriately dressed for various weather: as in, this is what we expect. It was very specific: for ex, in the rain section it showed rain boots and a rain coat long enough to cover the tops of them. I could see making one of those for each season as a reminder and sending them out as the season approaches (or as needed to remind the clueless ones...)

I also make sure to remind parents that what they need to wear to walk from the car into the office is very different from what their child needs to wear to be comfortable outside playing in it for long periods of time.

I'm not tough enough to turn people away at the door when their kid isn't appropriately dressed (though I'd love to be!), so I keep spares on hand for when people forget (or I don't think they've dressed their kid warmly enough). It makes it easier for me to do what I want to do when I've got what I need. But I do send reminders if it's starting to be a habit.

I also email parents daily, and write a blog for them. So they see lots of photos and hear lots of stories about us out in all kinds of weather. Helps to make it clear that I mean what I say.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

Sorry for posting again and again...guess I'm pretty passionate on this topic! Your question got me wondering what I have said to parents as reminders. Found this email to a particularly forgetful group:

Dear families,

We had a blast in the rain this morning! I slacked off some while I was sick, so now it seems we need a reminder of the true state of things at FtbaC: we go outside every day, in all weather. Unless there's some imminent danger of frostbite or heat stroke just from stepping out the door, we'll be out there. And we need gear. A raincoat might keep you dry walking from the car to the house, but it's not going to do the trick while playing in a downpour. I was able to gear everyone up in spare rain boots and coats today, and luckily, it was warm enough to ignore wet pants until we got inside. But it's going to get colder. Please, please, please start stocking up on all-weather clothing. Below are some recommendations based on years in the wet and cold with little kids.

It is oh, so worth it. Nothing beats the sheer joy of a child running with abandon through a huge puddle. And oh, the goopy, gloppy mud pies we made today! I wish you could have heard the laughter today! (And please know that I let them splash so intensely through the puddles today because the temperature allowed it. As it gets colder, we play differently in the rain--but we'll still be out there.)

Rain coats: The kids all seem to have good coats. Must be waterproof (not windbreakers) and the longer the better. I like raincoats a size too big for that reason.

Rain pants: A necessity! Even when it's not raining, the ground is often wet. We probably need rain pants more often than rain coats. I was wearing the cheapest, flimsiest pair from Costco today, and splashing in the puddles just as much as the kids were. When I came in, my skirt was dry. If you can't find rain pants easily (they're hard to come by), snow pants work in cold weather, and even a pair of fleece pants or wool pants pulled over indoor clothing and worn under a good long coat can make a huge difference.

Rain boots: You've all got good ones. Don't forget to bring them!

A fully-stocked basket: We need lots and lots and lots of extra clothes! Spare everything: shirts, pants, warm layers, socks, undies. Please check regularly to make sure that your child has--at the very least--a complete outfit in their basket. Two is preferable, and for children who have pee accidents, we often need more undies and pants.

Snow boots: I was in Target recently and Lucy wanted to try on every pair of boots they had. I noticed some good ones and some terrible ones, and it made me think I should offer up some suggestions before you buy this year. Good snow boots are tall and fasten very securely onto a child's foot (so they don't fall off) and calf (so they don't fill with snow). I love the ones with a toggle at the top to snug them up tight. In comparison, the ones with a flappy tongue above a single strip of velcro end up full with a huge snowball.

Snowsuits: The ones with bibs or all-in-one coats-pants keep kids driest. I hate to see a bare belly peeking out in the gap between a coat and snow pants...brrrrr!

My favorite place to shop for kids' gear is Savers (local thrift shop). I buy good outdoor gear whenever I see it, regardless of size--it'll fit eventually, and you can never find exactly what you want when you want it.

Which makes me think...if I see good rain pants, should I buy them? Would you buy them from me?

All right, off my soggy wet soapbox.
Have a great evening,
:-) Lise

[WImom]

We have this to follow in WI. I use it all the time. http://dcf.wi.gov/childcare/certific...atherwatch.pdf

[Heidi]

We have this to follow in WI. I use it all the time. http://dcf.wi.gov/childcare/certific...atherwatch.pdf

Hey, thanks for reminding me about this! I just realized I'm actually in compliance, because I only have infants and toddlers. One less thing to worry about.

[TwinKristi]

Wow!! :: living in CA I cannot even fathom taking kids outside at 20*! LOL we don't even go out if it's in the low 40's! We wait until the afternoon and have outside playtime after nap! It's been in the teens and 20's lately and everyone is flipping out!!

[sharlan]

I do not go outside unless it is over 65*, preferably 85*. If I have to put on a jacket we don't go out. If I lived where it snowed, my kids would never go outside.

[Blackcat31]

I do not go outside unless it is over 65*, preferably 85*. If I have to put on a jacket we don't go out. If I lived where it snowed, my kids would never go outside.

Aw, come on it's not that bad

It's only -17F here today and with wind chill factored in, I think it might be closer to -25F.

DH and I went to our local tree farm yesterday and spent an hour walking around in the deep snow and cold winter air trying to decide which tree we wanted.

If you dress warm, the weather is actually pretty beautiful!