To think good weather is no reason to cancel a trip?!

[WobbleYourHead]

DD is due to go on a trip to a local wildlife sanctuary tomorrow. They're walking there, spending a few hours at the place & walking back. It's just over a mile from school to the venue and the kids are Y1 so 5 and 6 (but mostly 6 at this point in the year).
Lots of mums on our class chat have today been saying how concerned they are about DCs being out in the sun all day and surely the trip should be cancelled in this heat. There are some saying they might request their DC are kept in school instead of attending the trip.
I appear to be the only person not really bothered by it as DD knows how to apply sunscreen, she'll wear a hat and have drinks. I also trust that the school will remind the kids to wear their hats, drink plenty and put extra cream on.
AIBU to think it's a bit of an overreaction on the part of the other parents?! I'm sure children in much warmer climates cope with school trips!

[VestalVirgin]

It is a bit unreasonable to call the current heat wave "good weather" - people in warmer climates do acknowledge that excess heat can be a problem.

If there's shadow where they go, yes, children that age should be old enough to know how to deal with it, but it depends.

I have worked with actual adults in a job that required being out on fields in the hottest midday sun all day, and people have turned up with only a half-litre bottle of water. (And admittedly, I have made the mistake of thinking one and half a litre would be enough.)

Having to make sure everyone drinks enough is an extra responsibility, and if there's no opportunity to buy water on the way in case someone didn't bring enough, I can understand why people worry. (Though of course the worriers could take adequate precautions, since they recognized the problem)

[needmymouthsewnup]

My child went on a field trip to a farm last week in 30+ deg C temperatures and was fine (not UK). A hat, sunscreen and a water bottle combined with activities that alternate sun and shade and they'll be fine :) If it's a wildlife sanctuary, there's bound to be trees etc to stand under and maybe indoor stuff. I agree with you OP.

[WobbleYourHead]

There are definitely trees! Plus there are bird hides and a classroom too. There's even a cafe on site (and therefore a kitchen) where I'm sure if necessary they'd be happy to supply cool drinking water or refill kids own bottles.

[onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad]

YANBU
I can't even express how ludicrous it is. ... people on our local parent's network even saying we shouldn't be walking dogs in this heat - then parents worried about .. what exactly? As you say children (and dogs) live perfectly happily in much warmer/ hotter climates. It's all way too precious.

[DorisMcSweeney]

Who knows. they may spontaneously combust. Small people are liable to do that

[cardibach]

I'm old enough to remember the long hot summer of 76. I was top juniors, so a bit older, but I was out all day, everyday in the holiday. We didn't do sunscreen then, or think about hydration, and I was fine. I appreciate not everyone would be in that situation, but it illustrates that becoming housebound or carrying eleventy billion bottles of water is not necessarily necessary.

[shinyredbus]

its bizarre isn't it?! i grew up in a country where it averages 30deg every day all day with 100% humidity constantly - we carried on with life as per normal

[user1497403588]

That's ridiculous, were not in Africa

what do kids in other countries do that have blazing heat everyday, yes i know they're used to it but still.

plenty of suncream, water and take shade accordingly..

[Dewey595]

You shouldn't walk your dog in the heat, as the hot pavement will hurt their feet. Press it with your hand -- if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your dog. Walk your dog in the early morning and evening instead. Or make them wear protective booties.

[CaoNiMartacus]

You'd think it was suddenly the Sahara or something. It's really REALLY not that hot.

[ArtemisiaGentilleschi]

It is absurd but you only need to read the batshit threads on here from mothers threatening everything from "telling her to fuck off" "smacking her one in the face" to full blown court of human rights litigation for the most pathetic things that happen in schools.
Factor in little Felicity "sweating a bit" and you can see where schools' thinking lies. Can you imagine how many calls they're going to get?

Hope the trip goes ahead and they have a great day!

[TheHauntedFishtank]

It was 30 degrees in the shade here yesterday. That is hot, particularly when you add in the fact that buildings and infrastructure in this country are designed to keep heat in.

[CountryCaterpillar]

Wow I'm beginning to wonder if our family is odd. It's 30 degrees here and I'm worried about sports day being sat out in direct Sun this week.

One of my kids would probably be okay but both one kid and myself reach point when we are too hot, uncomfortable. Liable to have headacjes/dizzy etx. Why is it so hard for people to realise not everyone is the same!

[Bluebellevergreen]

Oh well
YANBU
I grew up in Spain. We went outdoors and survived
You seek the sun, drink plenty, use sunscreen.

[Bluebellevergreen]

SEek the shade!

[MrsOverTheRoad]

It's ridiculous. We now live in South Australia and in Summer, the kids walk to school in 40 degrees! Nobody cancels.

The locals do all shit themselves at the sight of a bit of rain or a frost though. :D

[MrsOverTheRoad]

If you dress correctly, with sunscreen and a hat and drink enough, it's fine. 30 degrees is quite warm...quite being the operative word there. It's an average day here in SA in the late spring! Summer days are generally over 30 for a long time too.

We're all fine as are thousands of others.

[wheresmyphone]

MrsOvertheRoad
Ha ha, we lived somewhere hot too: remember mates cancelling evening in a restaurant once as rain was due, and a mum cancelling play date as it was windy. Seems like as soon as people get "different"weather they head indoors 😀🙄.

[ThanksMsMay]

It is a bit unreasonable to call the current heat wave "good weather" - people in warmer climates do acknowledge that excess heat can Cause

I'm from a climate with excess heat. We took precautions and went anyway as we'd never get out of the house otherwise!

[Loopytiles]

YANBU. Most DC of that age won't apply suncream properly, however, and many parents will forget the cream and sunhat, so it's extra work for the school staff.

[DoctorDonnaNoble]

It's all very well laughing and all that but I got sunburnt in South Africa in August (so winter) and yes I was wearing sunscreen. Our guide thought it was funny I'd got sunburnt in winter. But I am a pale Scottish ginger. I'm not designed for this. We have sports day on Thursday and I'm not looking forward to it (currently live in Essex).

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

Who do they will look after their children if they "stay in school" while the other kids go on the trip?

[bobblyorangerug]

It's bizarre.

Yes it's warm, yes it's uncomfortable and yes it's important to stay hydrated and use sun cream, but there really is no need for avoiding normal day to day activities.

As long as you're not a total dipstick who sits in a car all day with the windows closed or walks around wearing thick black winter clothes and boots, you won't spontaneously combust because it's hot.

What a bunch of precious over reactors.

Send your kid with a small light rucksack containing a decent sized bottle of water, a hat, suncream and snacks, and they are good to go.

Parents apply suncream before going to school and send kids in already wearing hats.

Teachers could make a short stop on the way and ask everyone to have a drink. Just to ensure everyone does drink. But obviously tell kids to drink throughout the day.

Kids top up suncream before walking back to school.

Refill bottles with tap water if needed.

Another short drink stop on the way back to school.

It's not rocket science.

[picklemepopcorn]

My children get heatstroke after a sunny sports day every flipping time. They spend the day in bed throwing up.

We don't go out much in the heat. If we do we put wet cloths around our necks to help.

It's no joke, for those who are prone. It's hard to carry enough water for a full day out, and children can't regulate their temperature as effectively.

Also, my DS got badly burned on a residential when staff didn't check that ten year olds put sun screen on their back where they couldn't reach.