Outside Play in the Winter

[Jewels]

A stroller is great for a baby, I just have all toddlers and preschollers right now, well until monday, but last year I just kept my daughter in the stroller, and she loved watching the other kids, Or you can always lay a tarp down, and bring a pack n play outside. , I have 3 kids that sit and just eat snow, I have three 4 yr olds, that run all over, and one who until just they other day would cry and sit on the steps the whole time, then he would just sit on the steps, and for the first time actually started picking up snow the other day, happy or not they go out....................and if your dressed right its not bad, I decided this year to invest some money in good outdoor clothing, and I stay warm

[Abigail]

Yesterday we brought out liquid watercolor in spray bottles and they spray painted the snow banks. they loved it!!!!

Do you put food coloring in a spray bottle of water? Does this ever get messy or sprayed on other children? What a creative idea to spray the snow! As kids, all my cousins (5 boys) all had to make the biggest snowball they could, which were about three feet tall/round each! Then they had to line then up in a row in the front side yard and aunt/uncle took spray paint cans and sprayed them into a caterpillar....it stayed like that for a good two months and didn't really fade. Talk of the neighborhood years ago.

I live in Calif. I love to take them outside. You guys who live in the east would totally make fun of us because it will be like 55-60 degrees and I will have them looking like they are ready for Alaska... guess our blood is thin... I hate it because its usually in the 70's in the winter.... really boring , I want snow!!!!

55-60 degrees is shorts and a tank top here!

I wish we could but it seems there is always at least one child without the proper attire. One girl had no boots for a week, other boy had no snow pants, then the next week had snow pants but no mittens! Mittens I have extras of but not boots or pants... plus we then had a few -30 days that I just couldn't stand to open the door and let the kids in let alone take them outside to play. Now I have 14 months old non walker who just started so I think we will be sticking indoors until it at least hits the 40's...Summer come quick!

Do you require parents to leave winterwear at your house Monday-Friday? That might be a good policy to start. Even if you can't go out daily, it looks like you are which some parents might appreciate.

I live in Alberta, and we go out everyday, unless it is below -23 C with the wind chill. So far this winter, we have stayed inside about 14-15 days or so. My youngest is 2, so the older kids like getting out. The 2 year old sometimes complains, but on colder days, we go for walks instead of just playing outside. I have a dog too, but I know where she poops, and I go out and dig it up with the rake. I have a long wooden toboggan that we'll pull, and smaller plastic ones that the kids pull each other on. I'd go crazy if I had to stay indoors all the time!

WOW -23 C is still a -9 F....you must have more flexibility in temperature because we can't go out if it feels like 10 Fahrenheit which is still a -12 Celsius. It is was too cold, I would probably open a window for a few minutes to get some fresh air.

[Symphony]

We go out if it is above 0 F. We'll go months at a time below freezing, so that isn't really an option to stay in. We have some pretty elaborate snow forts most of the time around here!

I think it is so interesting how different parts of the world adjust differently to weather! Someone mentioned they are freezing at 50 degrees, we are having a freak heat wave today and it is 38. My kids over 4 have been outside for three hours in short sleeves! Every parent has exclaimed what a gorgeous day it is, my horses are frolicking around, it's awesome! I can't wait for the little ones to wake up so we can be out for the rest of the day

[ammama]

[/Quote]
WOW -23 C is still a -9 F....you must have more flexibility in temperature because we can't go out if it feels like 10 Fahrenheit which is still a -12 Celsius. It is was too cold, I would probably open a window for a few minutes to get some fresh air.[/QUOTE]

In Alberta, the rule for schools and approved government dayhomes is that you have to stay inside if it is colder than -23, including the wind chill. If the cut off was much warmer, we'd never get outside!! It's COLD here!! Anyway, my daycare families know that we spend a lot of time outdoors, and I require that the kids all have really warm snowsuits, mitts, hats, scarves, boots etc. If someone shows up without adequate clothing for the weather (and I don't have any extra's), I send their parents home to get it. Many dayhomes that I know don't go out if it's colder than -15 here, but I really like to get outside

[daysofelijah]

Honestly I don't really take them out. If we get a warm sunny day above 20 degrees and I only have one under 2 I will get them out. That has only happened once since November though. I do send my older boys out to play and they have a good time, but it's just too much work/stress/crying with the under 4 crowd.

[melskids]

Do you put food coloring in a spray bottle of water? Does this ever get messy or sprayed on other children? What a creative idea to spray the snow! As kids, all my cousins (5 boys) all had to make the biggest snowball they could, which were about three feet tall/round each! Then they had to line then up in a row in the front side yard and aunt/uncle took spray paint cans and sprayed them into a caterpillar....it stayed like that for a good two months and didn't really fade. Talk of the neighborhood years ago.

its actually liquid watercolor. i bought it from discountschoolsupply.com but you could probably use food coloring. that might stain though. its not very messy, and i dont allow them to spray themselves or each other. honestly, they're having so much fun doing it to the snow, they don't really think about getting into trouble with it. i break out the spray paint cans too, to decorate snowmen. but they are only for my use. i wouldnt set the kids free with those

yesterday one child "decorated" my driveway with the bluish green color. one mom came in and said " i think someone's anti-freeze is leaking" we got a good chuckle out of it

[Jewels]

If you don't have the actual liquid watercolors, you could also just take some regular washable paints, and squirt some in a bottle and mix it with water really well. I'm definatly doing this next week, I just need to run out and get a bunch of spray bottles. so excited!

[Abigail]

yesterday one child "decorated" my driveway with the bluish green color. one mom came in and said " i think someone's anti-freeze is leaking" we got a good chuckle out of it

:::::::: So funny!

[momma2girls]

I live in Iowa and the weather is far too cold, to take children out! I have 4 under the age of 3, with 3 of them being under 1 1/2. There is no way, I could even take them out, and 2 of the 4 being under one!

[SilverSabre25]

Similar to Iowa daycare, except I'm in Ohio. I have my own 3 yo, a 2.5 yo, and then every one else is under 2, with the two youngest being 15 months old and very unsteady on their feet, both of them. There's just not much for this age group to *do* outside in the ice and snow and cold. Now, next year will be fun: I'll have the same group plus 3 babies (only 2 at a time though) who will be perfect ages to be bundled up and stashed in a sling, stroller, or pack n play! The older kids (all over 2 by that point) will be able to have a blast in the snow!

[Jewels]

I completely disagree I am sorry but, my daughter is 18 months old, and i have a 17 month old, and they love it outside, even last year when they were even smaller, they loved to sit and watch the other children and I'm In MN, were more north of iowa, and its colder here...........they get so excited everyday we go out, I don't think its the kids that hate it, I think its the adult, any child will have fun outside, if they are allowed the opportunity to do so, they might not all like it at first, my 17 month old the first couple months would cry, so I would sit him on the steps and he would sit and watch, everyday he cried less, and now hes up and moving and loving it. Of course their not going to like it, if they are never given the chance to do so.

[littlemissmuffet]

i live in upstate NY, which might as well be Canada....

we go outside EVERYDAY. yes, its a hassle getting them all dressed, but to me, its part of the deal, and i also think its good practice for them. i dont look at it as an added chore, but more a learning experience for them. i think its important that they get fresh air everyday. (even if sometimes its only for 10 minutes) it does have to be at least 20 degrees out, with no wind chill. we did attempt 14 degrees the other day, cause the school agers were bugging to go out, but it was too cold, and took our breath away. little babies are bundled good and put in their bucket seats w/ a blanket. i have one who is just learning to walk, so he kinda crawls around a bit. the snow is too deep for anyone to navigate right now, so we mostly play on the sidewalk and on my porch. yesterday we brought out liquid watercolor in spray bottles and they spray painted the snow banks. they loved it!!!!

Agree 100%. I live in a very cold and snowy part of Canada... but I take the time to bundle each and every one up, even if we're only going out for 5-10 minutes, and I will do this sometimes 2 or 3 times a day... it's part of the deal, indeed! If there is a severe wind chill, my DH will take out the older DCKs while I stay home with the little ones.

[laundrymom]

I'm Indiana and my personal rule is over freezing over 6 months go out. Under 6 mo it must be 40.