Temperatures For Taking Kids Outside

[Jupadia]

In the past u won't take them out when it dips below -10 Celsius with wind chill. I always have at least 1 under 2 who has just started walking or not walking yet so I've taken this into account as well.
This year I have to walk my kid to school so we will be out in the colder days sometimes. My MIL retires from work at end of the month and is willing to do school walks. (They live 5 min driving 15 walking away).

[Michael]

Our temperature suggestions: https://www.daycare.com/news/daycare_and_weather.html

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

Our temperature suggestions: https://www.daycare.com/news/daycare_and_weather.html

Very informative... though we'd be inside from October to April!

[HappyEverAfter]

Are you licensed, and is outdoor play required? I'd tell the parents at pick up that they must provide weather-appropriate clothing at the next drop-off. If they don't, figure out whether you want to charge fees to provide your own supplies, refuse drop-off, or tell them to bring the items by X time that morning.

I am legally exempt from licensing so it's up to me if we play outdoors or not. Right now I have 3 infants and one toddler so honestly when we go outside, the babies just sit/lay there while I sing to them or blow bubbles and the toddler is the only one who runs around. But in the spring, two of those infants turn one and they'll finally be running around too. My policies for parents to provide warm clothes will go in effect in January but until then I won't insist the parents dress the babies warmer. Meanwhile, my toddler and I held hands and ran laps throughout the kitchen and living room today as an alternative to playing outside. She loved it.

[LysesKids]

I had to smile reading these posts. I'm down south and it's a chilly 54degrees today. Because of that, I didn't take the kids outside and I've got a broken hearted toddler as a result. Now, if it weren't for my infants, I'd totally take them outside but the infants can't handle it. Especially not the way they come dressed. Neither has socks or shoes or a jacket. Just onesies and jogger pants. Those babies would freeze! I do imagine though that if I lived up north I'd have more sensible parents when it came to dressing them to go outside. Next revision of my policies will include socks, shoes and coat for winter time outdoor play. I envy those of you who get to play in the snow with your dcks!

I always require socks & jackets even for infants; I also have Sherpa blankets that I wrap babies in (bought when I did care up North - best investment ever )

[Blackcat31]

Very informative... though we'd be inside from October to April!

How long have you lived there? My best friends son goes to college in Fairbanks and he says the weather there is nicer than MN in the last few years. A bit more snow but warmer over all. http://www.bestplaces.net/compare-ci...age_ak/climate

[Lissa Kristine]

My current boss doesn't allow kids outside if it's under 40 degrees outside (we're in New Jersey). We have one child who isn't allowed out under 60 degrees. Only the 18 month+ crew gets to go outside (along with a 14 and 15 month old who are walking and have shoes/outdoor clothing). None of the babies go outside at ALL. Personally, I'd put jackets and hats on the babies if the weather is cooler and take them on a 10-15 minute walk in a "Bye Bye Baby Buggy" up and down the street to give them a little sunshine and fresh air. I'm all for outside time as long as there's not a severe weather advisory in effect for the area. If it's a little warmer or cooler (but not UNSAFE), I say dress the children appropriately and keep outside time shorter. If the weather is really nice (like 60s-70s), I say bring snack/lunch outdoors and spend the entire day outside (minus naps and bathroom breaks).

I worked at another place where the kids were outside ALL the time. If it was rainy (not storming, obviously), they'd put on rain jackets and boots and splash around in puddles. If there was snow on the ground, they'd bundle up and play in the snow. Even the babies who weren't walking went outside. Sometimes, they crawled around and played in the grass (or they'd bring a bouncy seat or blanket out for a littler baby). Other times, they got to go for stroller rides. It was great.

[Leigh]

Our temperature suggestions: https://www.daycare.com/news/daycare_and_weather.html

I use this along with common sense. Older kids can handle more outdoor time than younger kids. I have 2 kids who can not go outdoors in winter at all (on especially cold days, I have their mom pull into my garage for drop off/pick up because just walking from car to house can cause serious breathing difficulty). A majority of my parents (80%?) don't want their kids outdoors in very cold temps, and are vocal about it. I just go by how I think it feels outside, this chart, and whether I think the kids can handle more than 5 minutes outdoors. On very cold days when kids WANT to go out, they'll go out and play on the deck so that they can easily come back inside.

[CeriBear]

I look at the windchill to make the determination of whether or not to go out in the winter. I’d rather take the kids outside when it’s 30 degrees and no wind than when it’s 40 degrees and the wind blowing 20-30 mph.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

How long have you lived there? My best friends son goes to college in Fairbanks and he says the weather there is nicer than MN in the last few years. A bit more snow but warmer over all. http://www.bestplaces.net/compare-ci...age_ak/climate

This will be our third winter. It's a dry cold, with little to no wind, making it pretty great even in low temps. Today we have a predicted high of around 5 degrees and I'm excited because we'll get to go out. Coming from the Midwest I never would've thought I could be excited about the "warmth" of single digit temps.

[Blackcat31]

This will be our third winter. It's a dry cold, with little to no wind, making it pretty great even in low temps. Today we have a predicted high of around 5 degrees and I'm excited because we'll get to go out. Coming from the Midwest I never would've thought I could be excited about the "warmth" of single digit temps.

:: right?!? ::

Alaska is on my bucket list of places to visit for sure! I just love hearing all about it! It's definitely a wonder!

I can't imagine winter in any other sense than the one in which we (general we) live... so it's always fascinating to hear what winter is like in other places.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

:: right?!? ::

Alaska is on my bucket list of places to visit for sure! I just love hearing all about it! It's definitely a wonder!

I can't imagine winter in any other sense than the one in which we (general we) live... so it's always fascinating to hear what winter is like in other places.

Imagine snow that doesn't pack unless you run a car or something else large over it. It's all powder. No snowmen or even snow balls. We've found that if you try to sledding in untouched snow you just sink. It takes a lot of effort to get a run packed. It's just... different.

[AmyKidsCo]

WI regulations say that if we have children under 2 we can't go outside if temps with wind chill are under 20. I don't know what the temp is if all the children are over 2 because I've never had that. In the summer we can't go out if temps with heat index are over 90.

[Pestle]

In the summer we can't go out if temps with heat index are over 90.

:: Now it's my turn to laugh. Down here, you'd be indoors from 9am onward basically June-September.

[Pestle]

We have one child who isn't allowed out under 60 degrees.

Medical reason?