How cold is too cold for under 5s to play outside

[houches]

Hi there, just a bit of debate which could help me decide if I think I am being unreasonable about something.....

How cold would it have to be for you to ask school / nursery to keep your 3 or 4 year old inside?

Would you be happy for your child to be playing outside for 2 hours in the afternoon when the temperature is 15 degrees C, with variable sunny / cloudy weather, no rain, no wind? The children would have their coats on and be appropriately. They would also be running around the whole of this time in a large garden. Or would you say this temperature is too cold to play out? Or if it is not too cold, at what point would you say it would get too cold?

Well mine played for hours in the snow when they were that age...as did I.

We're all alive and well

I don't think it's ever too cold in this country as long as they are wearing the right clothes.

at our nursery (in Scotland) they go out in all weathers, including snow, rain, etc so 15 degrees would be perfectly warm enough. It hasnt even reached 15 degrees here yet this year but the kids will be outside if that is where they choose to be

Depends-playing out if its freezing it ok (thinking snow in UK) but only for a short time. What you have described sounds perfectly ok to me

No not too cold at all.

I agree with ohdearwhatdoidonow as long as they have appropriate clothing it doesn't get cold enough in this country to stop kids playing out.

I don't think it is too cold.
They need to be appropriately dressed that is all.

are you the nursery btw rather than a parent?

My 3 year old runs aorund in shorts and tshirt at that temp for over 2 hours.

I don't think I'd be worried at all as long as thy have their coats on and hats/gloves if really cold. Unless you are posting from Northern Russia in which case maybe you need to be a bit more cautious.

If they're running about and dressed appropriately then hovering around freezing would be fine for our 2 ds's, in fact dressed appropriately they've played out whe it was about -8.

If you're talking about school or nursery though it probably comes down to what temperature the supervising staff are comfortable in.

The conditions that you've descibed sound perfect - much more and it'd be too hot and sunny and as they're not allowed to apply suncream (or some other such excuse)..........................................

When icicles start developing on their noses and eyelashes it's time to bring them in

15degC? That's practically summer!

waist deep snow might be a no no

otherwise they should be able to go out if they chose, come rain, wind, sun, whatever

15 degrees is positively tropical

It's about clothing not temperature

The children I care for spent 10(ish) until 4(ish) outside today

15 degrees? At that point DS (5yo) would be merrily throwing his coat off as he would be too hot what with all the running around

fab x post

I doubt Innuit children play inside in +ve temperatures ......

15C is not too cold to be playing outside, IMVHO. It was 15C here today and I went out in a long sleeved blouse with no cardigan or jacket.

My DC played out for hours in the snow when they were small. They're still here!

If I was sufficiently happy with the school / nursery to leave my child in their care then I would be happy to trust their professional judgement. They are there with your DC and so are best placed to judge. Unless you don't feel they are competent - in which case that's a separate issue...

Has someone seriously complained? Children won't disappear because of a bit of frost/snow/cold wind.

YABU, they need to be dressed for it thats all. In Scandanavia the children o our in the cold a lot more often. In Sweden for example babies in nursery may well sleep outside, unless it is really cold say -15.

Of course 2 hours outside at 15 degrees c is fine for preschoolers! We are often outside at park/ on a walk for longer. I would have thought it was beneficial rather than the converse. Surely it's a no brainer? What are your thoughts, OP?

15 degrees c is quite warm...certainly is in these parts
kids are hardy things and if they are wrapped up and running around then they are usually fine. i would say if the kids are cold they will start shivering etc and i would like to think anyone i had left them with had a tit of wit to take them in then............but i would say most kids would be fine to run about at much colder than that.

Appropriate clothing is a tricky one, it varies from child to child, my son won't wear a hat, should he have to stay inside.

Appropriately clothed and HAPPY.

My 4 yr old's pre-school has free play, they can go outside or play inside all day for pretty much as long as they want to (aprt from group activities) they have to have a jumper on.

2 hours is a long time if you don't want to be outside or feel the cold. For my son, it isn't long enough.