Nursery Don’t Let Kids Outside Because it’s Cold

Statutory Guidance says children should have access to outdoor play every day, so “it’s too cold” isn’t really a valid excuse — maybe shorter sessions, but not avoiding it entirely.

I do get that it can be a huge faff getting everyone wrapped up, especially when parents don't always provide suitable clothes (there’s a special place in hell for finger gloves on toddlers) But outdoor time is essential for children and they definitely shouldn't be skipping it.

Who said anything about outdoor work?

My son's sensory issues mean that he find wearing more clothes than that intolerable and nothing about his day would be productive. There is no social worker who could change that. What they could do is force him to feel uncomfortable and make school a horrible place where he feels unsafe and overwhelmed.

I could do that too, but it wouldn't be in anyone's interests.

But her child IS cross about it. He wants to be outside and playing.

As another poster said yes it’s cold this week but their cutoff temperature for outside play in Chicago is -7c. Half an hour outside, running about etc at whatever temperature it is in the UK atm wont harm kids.
As soon as I saw the thread title @FanofLeaves my first thought was “I bet it’s because the staff would rather be indoors”.

There are plenty of autistic children in my country, they all learn to wear weather appropriate clothing no matter how difficult it for them. Only wearing a jumper and trousers would absolutely be neglect this time of year here, you would get a visit from the social workers and advice on how to get your child to adjust.

He probably won't move to Canada. He tries lots of things all day every day and succeeds at many of them. He doesn't have to also try to withstand cold weather outside in case he has to become a farmer one day.

His future isn't in outdoor work.

My son will wear a jumper and (certain types of coat) and jeans/trousers. That's not going to get anyone done for neglect, but nor is he warm enough on very cold days. Wearing more than that would be intolerable for him. It's fine if travel is short and he's mostly inside.

This is all standard autism stuff. As in, it's not unusual for an autistic person to find themselves in this predicament. If they didnt have predicaments like this, they probably wouldn't be diagnosed as autistic and receive PIP.

Out door days at usual at our daughters forest nursery along as temperatures are above -15, if a parent chooses not to bring appropriate clothing the child isn’t allowed to attend nursery at all, it works a treat.

Such a shame OP, my dd is in reception and the first thing the teacher said to her class as they arrived on Wednesday during the snow was 'don't worry kids, no phonics this morning... we'll come outside to play in it as soon as the register's done'

It kind of sounds like the staff don't want to go outside. Also, getting outside in the cold with a bunch of children who will inevitably need help putting on gloves, wellies, waterproofs etc takes effort. Maybe they are just lazy.
We would take our children out in -7 in the northeast of England. All wrapped up and having fun !

Exactly. What does PP think happens in freezing cold countries where it doesn’t get above zero for months on end?

This whole “it’s difficult so they don’t have to try” train of thought with autism is very recent and I’m not sure it’s particularly helpful.

Well seeing as you can’t always avoid weather - I’d say it’s very much a battle to fight, unless you’re going to raise a child who is never expected to ever go out once the temperature drops below a certain number?

You may believe he has “no reason to train himself” but you have absolutely no idea what his future will hold and you won’t always be there to protect him or fight his battles for him. One of the best things my (also autistic) father did was teach me how to cope with things that make me uncomfortable or even sick.

both my kids nursery and Reception class have free access to outdoors all day pretty much! They just get coats on and off they go out if they want no matter the weather!

There is a covered area so they can still be out in the rain!

both places say leave wellies permanently there and i leave spare warm clothes too in case needed

Bags packed with hats and mittens

Id hate them to be stuck indoors all day they both love being out

no such thing as bad weather anyway just the wrong clothes as the saying goes!

Maybe that is part of it then, as it just wasn't an option for me not to provide those things for my child. We are also in the south west where it's a very outdoorsy life in general but my son spent hours outside in all weather at nursery. Even in snow I'm sure they would have just built a snowman with the kids or something.

There's no option not to wear them in life where I am, not just in nurseries and schools - parents have to make sure their children, autistic or not, wear suitable outside gear or they will be neglecting their children. Can't just stay inside half the year, that would also be neglect and harmful to children so the only option is to get them used to them.

Yes and thats partly why a lot of children with SEND find educational institutions intolerable and won't go to any.

Then as someone autistic, you'll know there are hundreds of things one has to adjust to in order to "get by" in society, thus one must pick one's battles. Not every battle needs fought.

My son has no reason to train himself to withstand cold temperatures. He knows how to dress. He also knows how much clothing will cause him intolerable sensory issues so aren't really accessible options.

Having limited accessible options in comparison to one's peers is another reason they may get PIP to overcome said obstacles.

Unfortunately life doesn’t always work out the way we’d like it and coddling children with autism and sensory struggles does then absolutely no favours in the long run.

I have autism myself and as much as I’d love the world to cooperate with my needs all the time - it obviously does not and I have had to learn to tolerate things that are very unpleasant for me.

While you may feel like you’re helping your son by avoiding things he finds uncomfortable, at some stage he is going to have to learn how to tolerate cold temperatures and how to safely dress to keep himself warm and dry.

I totally agree, it's about the staff not wanting to go out.

They're in breach of the guidelines, please raise a complaint with the inspectorate, they can require them to get the kids out.

Is it a low income area? Just asking because my child's nursery insisted that parents provide things like a puddlesuit, wellies hats and gloves. The puddlesuit and wellies stayed at nursery. The gloves always got lost and I had to keep buying new ones. Then in the summer I had to provide a sunhat and roll on suncream.

Maybe the nursery are mindful that parents can't afford all that in the area youre in? Thats all I can think of as I wouldn't want my child outdoors without all those things.

Getting used to cold weather at a young age prevents a lot of misery every winter for the rest of their lives, wouldn't you want that? The UK is going to get more and more extreme weather thanks to climate change so even more cold snaps (and heatwaves) so it'll be harder and harder for those that can't cope with the cold.

Autistic children have to wear outside gear here, there's no option not to.

Suppose they don't play football or rugby either