To ask nursery not to let my child play outside when it’s dark out

YABU.

The nursery knows how to keep children safe and fresh air is good for them.

I agree with you, @Singlema99 . I wouldn't want my kid playing outside in the dark and also without proper outdoor clothing to keep warm. It is just the kind of thing I very much dislike about nurseries. I'd say you don't want your child going out without being properly dressed, and you aren't comfortable with them being out when it's got cold and dark. Talk to the manager. I would. Do it.

What's wrong with playing out in the dark?

why are you trying to make him scared of the dark?

Anyway, you're not unreasonable to ask, they need a good laugh, I'd love to hear their creative reply. Shame they can't be honest & just say 'No of course we won't make him stay inside 'because it's dark' 😂😂😂

I don’t think you can dictate something like that to nursery. You’d be looking at a nanny if you want that level of control over your child’s activities.

Don't worry about him being 'darked on*' but make sure to dress him in appropriate clothes.

*obviously the MN rule of bringing your washing in before it has been darked on (spider's willies) doesn't apply to young children

When you say he is "freezing" when you pick him up.....is he cold to the touch or actually shivering with blue lips?

If you pick him up in your arms and think "bloody hell you're cold!" but he is otherwise fine, then its simply because your outer body temp is warmer than his (I am guessing that you drive to get him). If he is genuinely shivering and showing signs of a low body temp then that is different, but I suspect that this isnt the case.

Have you seriously never been to the park after 4pm???

Although going out early morning is best:

I love it when the sun has not long rose, its been snowing all night, the snow is untouched and its magical
The kids have the BEST time

Is the whole nursery outside?
if so, then that wont happen as there will not be enough staff to look after him inside

If other ages are inside, then it would mean that he had to be with other age groups, potentially alot younger, whilst his friends all play outside without him
Even then, ratio’s still may not allow him to be in another room.

You are being very unreasonable

Middle of nowhere is even better. Little light pollution, the stars are incredible. You need to use a torch to see where you're going, that's part of the fun

I do this with my children, they absolutely love it! We wrap up warm, snap some glow sticks, get the torches and head out for half an hour. This time of year there's the added bonus of looking at people's Christmas lights

Funny thread, my son has been walking home in the dark every day and he's only just 2. And my older son has been going for night walks from time to time to explore since he was about 3 I think. All with an adult, but we live in London so it's busy and lit enough even later at night. Maybe in the middle of nowhere we wouldn't.

I grew up in the middle of nowhere with no street lights , we used to walk home from the school bus in the dark, regularly go out with torches on walks, it was great, yea, we may have bumped into the odd cow or pony ! I took my kids to the park after tea in the winter... in the dark... or they'd play in the garden my daughter is now 16 and his off to hang in the park at night with her friends... ...

If anything I think it's a good thing learning rules are different in different places. As long as he is properly dressed for the weather I can't see a problem.

I thought it was just washed and wet clothes people were worried about being darked on?!?

I thought it was just washing which was darked on?

Let him play with all the others outside - he is happy and will be learning something different. Send in extra warm hat and mitts if needed.

I'd be concerned if the lighting was inadequate, dark corners etc or pitched black places a child could hide without being seen. If there were floodlights in the play area & staff could witness their play at all times I'd be fine with it. If not I'd feel the same as you OP. Safety first.

Are you concerned about trip hazards?
What is it that you're actually worried about?

I personally do like my kids out, in the dark, we go to well lit places, in the cold, well there's wellies, puddlesuits, or coats, with their gloves and hats.

If others are out then I think it would be upsetting for him to not be able to play too. I'd ask for adjustments to their play to make you feel more comfortable, but I think it's also really important to allow kids all the joy they can get.

Sorry OP - another who thinks he'll be fine outside, although you're not "unreasonable" to worry about your child and want to take a minute to consider what is best for him.

Even if the nursery could accommodate it though, would you want him being singled out as having to stay inside by himself whilst his friends could go out? Sounds like the "cure" for being cold, would be more damaging than the cold itself.

If his hands and face are cold, no harm will come to him. If his chest or back are cold, you would be more than justified in asking the nursery to make sure he is wrapped up x

The nursery will not have enough staff for just your child to be inside whilst all the other children are in the garden.

Check with your child that he is not refusing his hat/gloves, or that he is not off running to play whilst the staff are trying to kit out children with hats / gloves etc.

The bogeyman isn't real.

So did we! The kids loved it, so much fun being outside “At night”!!

It’s much better for your child to be out in the dark than inside in brightly artificial lighting. It’s exactly what kids need to wind down and sleep well at night. We go out in the garden with torches in winter in the evening, the kids love it. Especially if we do a little fire pit as well.

Surely it's fun?

Are you afraid of the dark OP?

Your child is probably smart enough to understand that different places have different rules. If they get confused then explain that playing in the dark is ok at nursery, because they allow it. It’s not ok at home because you have different rules.

And send the poor kid in with mittens!