Temperatures For Taking Kids Outside

[Unregistered]

I am in MN. I am just wondering what is the lowest temperature that you will take kids outside. I recently did an interview and the parents mentioned that at their previous daycare, the provider didn't take them outside unless it was at least 30 degrees. They were shocked to hear that I take them outside when it is less than 30 degrees. I always take wind chill into consideration before making a decision, but i have definitely taken kids outside when it has been lower than 30 degrees. I also take into consideration the overall age of the group that I have each day and if they have appropriate clothes for outside. (Some kids are still coming in fall/spring jackets.)
Living in MN, if we didn't take kids outside unless it was at least 30 degrees, we would be inside all winter. Today's high temp is supossed to be 28°, but the high feel like temp is around 15°. Licensing requires us to take kids outside everyday, weather permitting. How many of you plan on taking the kids outside today? I usually would, but now am second guessing myself.

[Blackcat31]

I am in MN. I am just wondering what is the lowest temperature that you will take kids outside. I recently did an interview and the parents mentioned that at their previous daycare, the provider didn't take them outside unless it was at least 30 degrees. They were shocked to hear that I take them outside when it is less than 30 degrees. I always take wind chill into consideration before making a decision, but i have definitely taken kids outside when it has been lower than 30 degrees. I also take into consideration the overall age of the group that I have each day and if they have appropriate clothes for outside. (Some kids are still coming in fall/spring jackets.)
Living in MN, if we didn't take kids outside unless it was at least 30 degrees, we would be inside all winter. Today's high temp is supossed to be 28°, but the high feel like temp is around 15°. Licensing requires us to take kids outside everyday, weather permitting. How many of you plan on taking the kids outside today? I usually would, but now am second guessing myself.

30F?! Lol!

I can't believe a Minnesotan could say that with a straight face!

I take the kids outside everyday. Sometimes only a few minutes but we still go. The only time we are "stuck"inside is in really bad weather... blizzard, extreme cold (MN definition of extreme) and/or obvious dangerous or bad weather.

Winter is just part of life here. There really is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing.

[LysesKids]

30F?! Lol!

I can't believe a Minnesotan could say that with a straight face!

I take the kids outside everyday. Sometimes only a few minutes but we still go. The only time we are "stuck"inside is in really bad weather... blizzard, extreme cold (MN definition of extreme) and/or obvious dangerous or bad weather.

Winter is just part of life here. There really is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing.

What? Do these parents not ice skate, play hockey or have snowball fights? Even in WI/North IL we were outdoors unless windchill made it dangerous. IN Sweden/Iceland babes are dressed in warm clothing and sleep outdoors in prams during nap time . I still have some parents bitch me here when I say we are going out in 45 degrees - Deal with it

[Unregistered]

The majority of my parents have never questioned me taking their childrenout in "cold" weather. I guess I was more surprised that their other PROVIDER didn't take them outside unless it was 30 degrees! Wondering how many providers choose to keep them in unless it is a certain temp. I have also read posts on other sites where the provider states that they don't take their kids out unless it is at least 20 degrees and in some cases 30 degrees.....

[Pepperth]

Northern climate here as well. Its currently 25 degrees. I take wind into account, but I go out unless the wind chill is bad. We bundle up and don't stay out as long, but the kids and I both need the release that outside brings.

[hwichlaz]

I'm in Northern California so the parents here are snowflakes. But I take the kids out every day unless it's raining hard enough to soak through their clothes.

[storybookending]

My licensing specially states it must be above 20F, windchill included, for children under 2 to be taken outdoors. I think it’s 0 if you have no children under 2 but I am unsure as I never bothered to learn fully as I can never imagine a time when I wouldn’t have at least one under 2. I know school aged in 0F for sure from when I did after school care. Yesterday was our first fully indoors day due to cold of the season. I’m next door in WI.

[hwichlaz]

I'm in Northern California so the parents here are snowflakes. But I take the kids out every day unless it's raining hard enough to soak through their clothes.

and in the winter it's regularly in the teens here, sometimes 8F. But not much of a wind chill. We do have wet winters though, so that's why I won't take them out if they are going to get soaked to the skin. That's too much with the cold.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

Our climate is considered "subartic".
We stop going out when goes below zero. We will hit that sometime this month and it will last until March. The schools here keep kids inside when it's less than -20. Very dry cold though, an minimal wind. But yes, for a couple months we are indoors. If I had all older children (18 months +) I would adjust and maybe do to -10, but we'd still be inside for a couple months even then.

[daycarediva]

It is VERY VERY rarely too cold to go outside here (NY)

I know providers, many of them, do not take kids out unless it's above freezing. That's INSANE, and we would be indoors most of the winter.

Today is was 10* with the wind chill and we were outside for 30 minutes. Will go back out after rest time, too.

[Josiegirl]

If it's above 0 we go out. Maybe not for long and I dress them the warmest that I can. I think the cold bothers my dog's paws and me more than it does the kids.
Quite honestly, I hate the cold and I hate the hot. I like it just right.
But with 2 dogs that won't wait all day to go to the bathroom, some days we have no choice.

[DaveA]

I use to scientific measurement of I step outside. The "no go" temp is "@#&^ it's cold!" A sunny calm day in the 20s is less likely to hit that temperature than a windy cloudy day in the low 30s.

[Pestle]

I'm on the Georgia state line, so it never gets too cold to go outside--the only issue is weather-appropriate clothing. (I don't think it really ever dips below the 20s here unless there's a strong wind.) I have an oversized fleece jacket that I zipped over the baby in the Ergo last year; I wore him and he slept all bundled up while the toddlers played.

[HappyEverAfter]

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!

[Pestle]

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!

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.