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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be cross with school for sending primary kids out at lunchtime in heat yesterday

102 replies

busyhouseof8 · 28/06/2011 12:29

So, it was 33 dgrees in this part of Essex yesterday. When I picked up my 9yo DS from school yesterday he had heat rash everywhere and was really uncomfortable and distresed.

AIBU to think that the school was wrong to insist the kids went out to play at 12.30 in that heat - albeit that they had hats and sunscreen. There is very little shade in their playground. Every year the advice on the telly is to avoid the sun in the middle of the day - the teachers stayed inside!

Contemplating making a fuss with the headmistress, so please let me know if I should wind my neck in....

OP posts:
LadyWithNoManors · 28/06/2011 12:32

My DS was also out at break and lunch time. I would have thought that most schools would have.
You can't expect them to be kept in because it's hot.

LIZS · 28/06/2011 12:33

yabu if they had hats and sunscreen and access to water. Kids are suffering through lack of vitamin d now beciasue they don't get enough sunlight. A more constructive way to query it would be to ask if pta could fund a gazebo or tow to provide some shade.

Nixea · 28/06/2011 12:33

I think I'd have been more annoyed if they'd have kept them inside all day because it was hot thb. You said they all had suncream and hats so I'm not too sure I see the issue.

upahill · 28/06/2011 12:34

No it is not wrong.
Don't complain.
Just make sure your child has sun screen on when you send them to school on hot days and also put extra drinking water in their bag if they don't do water bottles at school.
If they do water bottles tell your son to make sure he has plenty to drink.

onehellofaride · 28/06/2011 12:34

maybe it would be a good idea to gently suggest to the school that they have an alternative for the children to stay inside instead of being made to go outside as your DS can't be the only child to have suffered out in the heat yesterday. Would your DS have stayed inside if it was an option?

allhailtheaubergine · 28/06/2011 12:35

Oh suck it up.

Honestly.

It's 40 + degrees here and we still go outside every day.

DELHI · 28/06/2011 12:35

sometimes I feel sorry for teachers - yes, I do! Whatever they do, someone complains. YABU

CMOTdibbler · 28/06/2011 12:35

If theres no shade, then perhaps you could suggest that you would help the pta fundraise to install a shade - one of those sail things perhaps ?

savoycabbage · 28/06/2011 12:35

Yes yabu.

worraliberty · 28/06/2011 12:37

Dear God it makes me wonder how we survived through the hot summers in the 70s Hmm

It's only sunshine/heat...your child had a hat on, sun cream and access to water!

upahill · 28/06/2011 12:38

I like that idea about getting a sun shade for the school.
Are you involved in the PTA, could you do some fund raising and help them get one.

Especially if you want your child to benefit from something like that.

I must admit I'm with Delhi, some one is always moaning to the teachers about something and they can't win

Shanghaidiva · 28/06/2011 12:38

35+ here from May to September and kids are outside. Provided they are wearing hats and have access to water, not a problem imo. Our school library is also open at break and lunch times as the heat can be quite exhausting for the younger children (they start at 2 years at dc's school).

Pinkjenny · 28/06/2011 12:39

I am completely neurotic and sun-phobic after a bout of sunstroke. And I even I think YABU.

worraliberty · 28/06/2011 12:39

Actually, my 8yr old went on to do an hour's football practice after school in the heat.

He looked like a little sweaty faced tomato by the end of it and had great fun Grin

CQrrrnee · 28/06/2011 12:39

YABU and precious

lucykate · 28/06/2011 12:39

oh fgs!, this is the uk. one hot day and you're up in arms about it.

wind your neck in Wink

Sidge · 28/06/2011 12:42

YABU a bit of fresh air (even if humid) is better than being indoors all day.

The school yard/playground should have some shaded areas though.

Better to make a suggestion re shaded areas than to complain about letting them out to play.

pantsandpup · 28/06/2011 12:44

It would have been daft to have kept them in! It would have been boiling for them all day in the school too.

My dd was fine! She's very fair and not quite 5 yet. She had suncream on, sunhat and her school encourage them to take in sunglasses too. They do have a shady area though, that would be my only complaint at your sons school tbh.

And then she ran round the park for an hour with her friends after school.

Teachermumof3 · 28/06/2011 12:47

Oh, for goodness sakes-we can't win, can we!? Had we kept them in during the glorious sunshine (which, let's face it-doesn't happen too often)-someone would probably have complained about that, too. When it snowed-people complained that their children's school closed, other people complained that theirs opened!

YABU.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 28/06/2011 13:19

Maybe the school had run out of cotton wool Hmm

Seriously, it is ludicrous to expect school to keep kids in just coz it's hot!

Asinine · 28/06/2011 13:22

Seems there is market for school parasols Grin

MrsDaffodill · 28/06/2011 13:25

YABU

Tee2072 · 28/06/2011 13:25

Oh FFS. It's sunshine, it's good for you, with the proper protection.

Yes. YAB very very very U.

LindyHemming · 28/06/2011 13:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BooyHoo · 28/06/2011 13:27

jeezlaweez, folk are precious!!

it's a bit of heat. children do not need to be kept at constant room temperature, they wont go off you know.