To not like the school taking the kids swimming this time of year?

[CherrySkull]

Yes i know i am, but its like.. one of those ingrained things i learned on my mothers knee

Don't go out with wet hair when its cold!

It's like there is a constant shouting match going on in my head between Sensible Cherry and Old Wives Tale loving Grandma!

Every time DD (7) mentions she's got swimming class tomorrow, its like Old Grandma suddenly sits up and goes "she shouldn't be out with wet hair in this cold, she'll get sick, they shouldn't be taking the little kids outside in this cold straight from a hot swimming pool when they never dry themselves properly and are still damp with wet hair!" and then Sensible Cherry tells her to sit down and shut up, but she carries on grumbling ominously in the background.

Anyone else have those kind of inner wars with themselves? Or am i just nuts? shush

I used to get some of this from my parents, although they weren't too forceful with it.

I have largely ignored it with my own children. They have been fine, and have had no more colds or other bugs than others around them.

oops two nowadays...

i only ever use a swimcap to keep my earphones in,i like music when i swim.
My dc had swim lesson all year round from babies until teens. They walked 15 mins there and back, never died od a cold after.

I wouldn't like it either. My secondary school had its own pool but for some reason swimming was classified as 'winter PE' for everyone and while swimming caps were compulsory, they never kept hair dry. Horrible in the cold weather! We also used to have to leave the building barefoot and put socks and shoes on outside.

Okay, so swimming in winter doesn't cause colds, but going swimming is so much more pleasant if it's warm outside when you leave!

Ds2 had swiiming friday morning. They had to walk 15 mins with snowy blizards.

Made sure he had a hat and gloves. He was fine i did feel a little sorry for em walking in the weather as i hated the walk to work in it.

But wet hair doesnt cause colds. Long as theybhad coats on there fine

We did a fire evacuation (practice do planned) in February from the pool (suits and towels & shoes) snow on ground. Age 9. Seriously. We were all fine.

I remember swimming lessons at school in winter and if I was a parent then I probably would have questioned it. But that was an unheated outdoor pool, in winter (and spring and summer and autumn). They pretty much had to break the ice for us to go in sometimes.

Just like others have said. Stop fretting. You don't catch a cold from wet hair. Get her to wear her hair up and put a hat on that covers her ears. She'll be fine. Everything a school does is risk assessed to within an inch of any enjoyment actually to be had. If there was genuinely any significant risk they wouldn't be allowed to do it! If you have genuine concerns ask to see the risk assessment and discuss with staff leaders if you still have worries.

YANBU. There are several reputable studies that show a combination of warm, humid environments (where viruses find it easy to be transmitted and breed); and cold outside (causing immune system to be depressed and nasal passages to dry out) is the main reason why we have a "cold and flu season". DD1 always gets sick after winter swimming lessons; usually ear infections.

Sladurche, that is because while wet/cold won't make you ill, apparently if you already have a cough/cold virus, then lower temperature is more likely to make it propagate.

So getting cold, while carrying a virus will result in your immune system being less able to fight it off, thus you get ill.

But there has to actually be a virus present first.

That's probably why my sinuses swell in response to cold. I've been told I'm prone to chronic low grade infections in them.

Agreed, but swimming pool environments (humid and warm) mean viruses are more easily transmitted from one child to another as the viruses survive longer in the atmosphere. So going swimming and them going outside after swimming in winter makes viruses spread and take hold more easily. My daughters school even insist that they go swimming even if they have a cold; which I think i's irresponsible.

My DD swims before school twice a week all year, I wouldn't consider stopping her swimming the benefits out way any potential illness she may or may not catch