To think that British people need to get better at winter?

[honeytea]

I have noticed lots of people worrying about the cold weather and their DC coming to harm due to eating/sleeping/playing outside.

I am confused as to why in a country that we all know has miserable weather for much most of the year some children don't have clothing that enables them to spend time outside. The risk of vitamin D deficiency, the higher chance of getting ill when inside and childhood weight issues could all be made better if kids were encouraged to spend more time outside.

I know it isn't all families, I have just been supprised at the amount of people worrying about thier children being damaged by winter weather. It doesn't even get very cold in the UK, nothing a pair of breathable woolen thermal underwear and a good coat/all in one wouldn't solve.

I am British but I now live in Sweden, here the kids at daycare/school have to spend at least 2 hours outside by law, it doesn't matter if it is raining, snowing or -10 the kids are still out playing/eating/sleeping. The schools only shut due to weather when the temp drops below -40.

AIBU to think that we need to get better at winter, it does after all happen every year for about 6 months

[whois]

YANBU

If you wrap up in warm clothes and waterproofs then you'll be fine.

Does get a bit annoying if you're out shopping tho and have to de-layer every time you go in a shop.

[ouryve]

LemonMoussletoeandWine Sat 01-Dec-12 18:27:58

I have to admit that NE England often has a snigger at the South when it grinds to a halt (sorry wink ). The little corner of Co Durham where I live is renowned for its snow - so much so that we often get 'Haha, you're from X - still got snow up there?' in the middle of Summer. We are quite a hardy bunch but we do make sure we have the right clothing etc - exceptions made for Friday nights on the town where we slap on an extra layer of fake tan for warmth wink

I'm guessing you're from the West of the county, then, because here in the East people are still out in their Flossys in the pouring rain and parents all take their kids in their cars and clamour for a prime parking spot on the zigzags outside school in the slightest shower. Our village is really high up, though - 500' above sea level at our end and it has been known for there to be snow on the ground here when it's just been raining everywhere else.

The real stinger here is the wind. Because we're so exposed and fairly close to the sea, the winds are often stronger than elsewhere and all of our south facing windows have had the seals broken by it over the years. And the damp. Everything is damp. We can't even open a window to let fresh dry air in because the air outside is rarely dry!

I have my (mostly) waterproof purple dork pants, though. Far more stylish than wet trousers hanging off my arse.

[ouryve]

Indith Some things need to change, I think grit bins need ot be kept full.

ITA - only Durham Council, in their wisdom took away the two grit bins at either end of our long street. The others in the village only ever get gravel put in them, which is great for putting some traction on packed ice with all the hills we have, but rubbish at keeping it at bay. And the road outside our house gets gritted because it's a main road and bus route, but as soon as grit stocks run low, the roads down to the local primary school don't even get touched and end up lethal. Even some of the wimpy drivers I mentioned earlier get out and walk.

[SugarplumMary]

I'm surprised at the number of people who don't have good winter coats however they drive so often go from car to indoors pretty quickly - so I suppose it can seem like an unnecessary expense.

You need to look at diet for vit D OP in winter or vit pills.

Going out for an hour is supposed to help with SAD - however there are many days when the is nothing but a block of grey cloud so no sun and low light levels so that often doesn't help.

It's the cold rain, drizzle, freezing fogs, day long mists and wind that make the UK particularly unpleasant IMO. Being out for hours in that even in good thick winter water proofs gets depressing and cold IME.

[Indith]

I'm in Durham too so I hear you!

I find it daft in some ways. We walk from our village over to the next one for school, it only jsut over a mile but so many people think we are really odd/brave/stupid for walking it every day except when the baby feeds or poos at the wrong time and we have a mad scramble for the car. I get lots of "do you not have the car today?" and in the floods least week when school closed early ds1 was sent back with a member of staff in her 4*4 because the TA was convinced I couldn't possibly walk down to get him .

[honeytea]

How do you walk on snow pls op?

Particularly frozen icy snow.

My DP tells me to always try to walk on visable snow, rather than ground that looks clear but is probably icy.

If there is no option of walking on visable snow it is better to drag your feet in a skating motion rather than picking your foot up each time you step.

I do still fall over at least once a year but I am getting better!

[MrsMerryMeeple]

How do you walk on icy snow? Carefully! Very carefully! DH always teases me about how slowly I walk as soon as it gets the slightest bit icy.

[mathanxiety]

You keep your knees slightly bent, take short strides, keep your arms out for balance, don't lift your feet too high, and proceed slowly.

[honeytea]

Never carry anything that might break like your i phone/child/brakable christmas pressies. Also ice can be deceptive because it can look like there is grit on it but the grit is actually frozen into the ice leaving smooth sheet ice.

[Mrsjay]

I once slipped on ice with a bottle of vodka I risked my neck to save it most people would have let it drop and save themselves

[FlaminNoraImPregnantPanda]

Or do like I do: stay inside in the warm, send your husband out for essentials, and wait until spring.

[digerd]

I found the german snow was tiny dry flakes which could be easily brushed or shoveled to the side. It did not rise above freezing - staying well below,- so did not melt in the day as does here and freeze again at night. That is the danger of it not being cold enough here.

[ouryve]

Indith - we walk in all weathers, too, but I wouldn't have turned down the offer of a lift on Monday.

I'm less looking forward to tomorrow morning, because there's likely to be a lot of black ice and I have rubbish joints and can't walk on the stuff without being terrified of slipping and ripping out a hip or something. DS2 will most definitely be in hi SN buggy in the morning, or else we'll be likely to travel down the hill on our backsides.

[laptopdancer]

oh maaaaan! I wear thermals, ski socks, snow boots, proper gloves , coat and hat here in winter and I still freeze my arse off :(

[laptopdancer]

I have pagophobia as well :(

[CruCru]

I've been inspired by this thread and have ordered a bunch of thermals for me and DS and some snow boots for me for £50 (DS already has some dear little red ones from JoJoMamanBebe).

[honeytea]

Enjoy your warm adventures crucru :)

[Indith]

Given the amount of ice there is likely to be tomorrow I shall be strapping on the yak trax for the school run tomorrow to avoid flattening the baby in the sling as I go arse over tit.

[CaptainVonTrapp]

YABU.

There's no Vit D to be had during the winter (in this country).

More exercise and a healthier diet helps with weight issues and health. No need for this to be outside.

I'm not sure people are 'worried' about their dc eating outside - they just wouldn't choose to sit outside themselves eating sandwiches whilst wearing woolly gloves - so can't imagine their dc would.

So if you want to get wrapped up and go outside thats great but don't expect everyone else to join you.

I do agree, as a country we need to get better at keeping roads/schools open. Gritting\putting winter tyres on etc

[moonstorm]

Lots of sensible talk on this thread

[Allegrogirl]

We live in wet and warm Devon and have no trouble at all with wind and rain. Cold doesn't bother me, although we don't get much of it. We live in a Victorian Terraced house and despite having the original windows it is not cold as DH has put stupid amounts of insulation under the floorboards and in the loft.

What I can't stand is ice. When we get snow it thaws and refreezes everyday until it's perfectly smooth ice. We live on a steep hill. Two years ago over Christmas I couldn't get the chunky 3 wheeler up our hill as I just kept slipping backwards. I put the babies car seat on the pavement and she slid downhill. I guess we should all be out with shovels at the first sign of snow but as previous posters have said we don't prepare for the weather. And we frequently get rain falling on frozen ground. How do you prepare for that?

Can anyone recommend those grips for shoes? I am a pathetic wimp walking on ice.

[FairPhyllis]

How do you walk on snow pls op?

Here everyone has to keep their sidewalk clear and grit it, which helps a lot. If I am walking down a slope I usually walk on snow that is covering grass rather than stone as the traction is better - most sidewalks have a grass verge in between the paved bit and the road.

I really like the attitude of 'everybody helps out'. It makes things so much easier. One of my neighbours who has a snow blower sometimes clears my access road without me asking - just because he knows he might as well do it because it's easier for him than for anyone else.

[Anonymumous]

No, we don't need to get better at winter. Winter is perfect, just the way it is. We moan and we groan, but deep down most normal people are thrilled at the prospect of getting a day off work or school so we can go sledging or snowball-fighting or snowman-building. It wouldn't be NEARLY so much fun if we were all prepared for it and couldn't have Snow Days. Don't be such a blinking spoilsport!!!

And surely there cannot be a child in the country who doesn't want to go outside to play in snow?

[moonstorm]

I actually prefer to walk on snow than on cleared ground that might be icy. You can get some great grips to wear on your shoes on icy ground.

In Bergen they get snow - rain - ice - snow - rain - ice etc. They invest in the proper equipment - for cars, children and adults. It does cost, but once bought, you keep for a long time/ buy second hand/ give clothes away to friends etc. We just have to start somewhere.

I don't mind driving in the winter, but I hate driving knowing that other drivers are not prepared. Winter tyres make a MASSIVE difference to drivability.