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

That sounds really poor, OP.

My two would have hated that - garden time was both of their favourite part of nursery and I looked for nurseries based on their having plenty of it. I moved dc1 half way through her nursery years to somewhere with more garden time.

Yes, some parents might complain re them going out in the cold, but it’s the right thing for them to be out. Nursery should be sending reminders to bring the right kit, and if some parents don’t then, ratios permitting, maybe those kids do end up missing out. I’m sure nursery spares exist for a few who forget.

It does sound like the staff just don’t fancy it tbh but that is really poor of them.

Another one with kids that were in nursery abroad - there were official temperatures for when they were allowed outside - something like above -15c (including windchill) and below 32c. Pretty low and high numbers anyway! The kids always seemed fine.

You did have to have proper winter gear for them though and they were always asking for donations of outgrown stuff

Unfortunately it's just one of the basics in early years. No one enjoys changing nappies either.

I really couldn't get fussed about my precious little one not being outside every now and again.

I would hate to be a nursery worker on minimum wage expected to be out in the snow. The paths around me have been deadly today.
It’s one of the reasons a family member left the profession. She had thermals and great coat. But struggled to stay warm.

They're supposed to have outdoor play every day unless it's unsafe extreme weather.
I'd email the manager and just ask what their policy is as your DS would prefer to be out every day.

Ridiculous.

That’s quite odd tbh. My DC were always out at nursery in all weather. Even when it was pouring, they had a covered section with plenty of equipment and would let them out in that area. I’d query it personally.

I wouldn’t be happy at all. My 2 year son is the equivalent of a human spaniel, needs outside exercise every day or starts climbing the walls.

Yes it’s a bit of a pain getting them all dressed but they should be 100% be outside. I’d understand if it was raining and cold as it’s much harder to keep warm but dry and cold there is absolutely no reason why then can’t be outside. If anything I think the fresh air is so beneficial in the season of coughs and colds.

Thats awful. I would be looking at a different nursery. All the nurseries around here are free flow. We also have 2 outdoor nurseries in the forest where the children are outside all the time. There are a few wooden canopy, shelter things and a large hut that is used for drying off clothing but they are outside all day every day.

We stayed in this morning as it was Baltic, but went out this afternoon to a national trust park.
(I am a childminder)
Two children age 2, one child aged one.
Its DEFINITELY the staff being nesh!

What's the weather like where you are? I'm in the NE, have had snow the last few days, which has melted to slush by lunchtime, then refrozen overnight. The kids have had mostly inside playtime at school and every time they've been out in the garden at home they've been cold wet and miserable within 10 minutes, then needed a complete change of cloths, which just wouldn't be practical with a class of 30 3yo's.

If you do have spare warm cloths, definitely offer them to the nursery. My kids schools have both been sending out emails asking for any outgrown wellies, coats or socks. It's the first year they've been actively asking, so I'm guessing more kids then usual are been sent without (COL?)

DD (2) is also in a nursery that is inside/outside and they have access all day if they wish. Got some lovely pictures of her in her padded full suit and hat in the snow today :)

Probably the staff just didn't want to go out which is not good enough really.

Oof. That would annoy me Op. One of the reasons we chose our nursery (children in primary now so was a few years ago) was because it "free flow" so children could be outside as little or as much as they liked, whatever the weather. The adjoining preschool, that they moved up to at 3, was the same.

It's pretty poor IMO to keep kids indoors all day. Seems like laziness to me.

Ours have been out through free flow. Children whose parents haven’t provided decent clothing will have a brief run about and go back in once too cold but those with decent clothing have played out for pretty much as much as usual. Staff know to bring their own warm coats when it’s chilly.

My mum used to put me outside in my pram in the snow . Ok it was the 60’s but I was wrapped up very snuggly. I didn’t actually put my son in the snow in the pram but we definitely went out in it a lot.

Do you think that there are a lot of children who don't have appropriate outdoor wear and maybe the parents can't afford to provide it? I'm just trying to think of any reasons they might be keeping them in!

Kids here aren’t kept inside until it’s -25 or below.

Exactly. The UK seems like a weird anomaly when it comes to the weather - it's like we get surprised when it gets cold in the winter.

That's something you need to take up with OFSTED then as daily outdoor play is a legal requirement, and they have no choice but to stick with the legal ratios.

Well, that's a parenting issue, but it's not a reason for all children to be stuck inside.

Kids should be playing outside every day. It's not healthy to be inside all the time.