To recommend you buy your DC thermals now?

[Benjispruce2]

Schools will be keeping windows and doors open throughout autumn and winter as per gov guidelines re Covid-19.
Today primary aged children complained it was cold. It’s still September so this is your ‘heads up!’

I don't think it's going to be too freezing so you can't even hold a pencil.
Sure window may be open, but heating will be on too. And you don't need to open fully, just enough for air to flow.

If you look at the studies which show the concentration of CO2 in a closed classroom during the lesson more ventilation is definitely a good idea.

However it is already starting to get cold and they are sitting still so not moving to keep them warm. Definitely the year for under layers.

I am considering investing in some merino wool tights and a silk slip for me.

I actually told my year 7’s Yesterday to make sure they get the school jumper ready for next month.

DS owns thermals, school jumpers and token pairs of trousers etc but due to Sensory Processing Disorder as part of his ASD/ Dyspraxia, he refuses to wear anything like that and he's the child going sledging happily with his shorts, polo shirt and a coat on top. Until it gets down to -6oC with a wind chill...

Long socks and shorts are probably warmer than the usual ankle sock/ trouser combo anyway.

Fortunately he has a younger brother who ends wearing all the superflouous unworn stuff that DS1 rejected.

I feel the cold and love thermals. DC not quite as wimpy as me. I wonder if fingerless gloves are ok?

The ventilation sounds like a good idea but I do hope schools are going to be a bit more flexible about uniform. Families on lower incomes won't have the money to kit children out in thermals or sufficient warm weather clothing for the kids to remain warm whilst sitting still. The priority must be warmth and comfort if we want children to learn but the windows have to remain open.

It’s good. Children acclimatise the same as adults. There are people who swim in ice for pleasure and health. The U.K. is not going to be sufficiently cold to cause harm to a healthy child - a bit of fresh air is good and aids concentration rather than preventing it. It’s a window open not use of air condo take it to sub zero temperatures.

The added advantage is that they’ll use up more calories (good for the chubby children) and move more; reduces risk of other diseases being transmitted too. We live our lives in hermetically sealed environments these days. It’s good to feel the weather.

@GreyishDays

Are thermals much better than an extra T-shirt under their uniform? If so I will get some. My son’s wearing his coat in class already.

Yes, especially if Merino wool. These are by far superior. DS works from an unheated Workshop/outdoors Thermals are essential in cold weather.

Merino wool is the superior wool..non itchy and easy to wear next to skin.

I think this thread shows how many children are that used to over centrally heated houses and cannot tolerate a bit of freshness. How do you all think outdoor workers cope during the winter. Your children will not die with the windows open.

I'm worried about this, my year 2 DD wears thick tights and a jumper but she's not allowed to wear thermals or a vest under her polo shirt and it is checked. Coats hang on pegs and don't move from the pegs all day, they're not allowed to go and get them at lunch or playtime as it means walking passed another bubbles room.

She has had cold in her bones before and it caused so many issues for weeks afterwards but school won't budge on the thermals/vest/coats rule.

@CherryPavlova

It’s good. Children acclimatise the same as adults. There are people who swim in ice for pleasure and health. The U.K. is not going to be sufficiently cold to cause harm to a healthy child - a bit of fresh air is good and aids concentration rather than preventing it. It’s a window open not use of air condo take it to sub zero temperatures.

The added advantage is that they’ll use up more calories (good for the chubby children) and move more; reduces risk of other diseases being transmitted too. We live our lives in hermetically sealed environments these days. It’s good to feel the weather.

TOTALLY agree. Fresh air is lovely. Sitting down being still can be cold though. Mum used to keep her large house icy cold...My bros who worked from home sat in the office in their coats and she'd be tapping away at the computer in fingerless gloves and a hat...it was crazy. Breath plumed. But they hardly ever got colds. But it was bloody miserable in the end....Bros moved out to buildings with actual heat in. 13 degs C is not comfy to be at a desk in.

There no way I’ll be sitting in my classroom with doors and windows wide open when it’s zero degrees outside. The heating would do next to nothing unless you’re stood right next to it the whole time, and the environmental cost of heating a room that has all the doors and windows open isn’t something I think is acceptable.

I wrap up in layers and thermals from October to March most years anyway and still struggle with the cold, we all have different tolerances to it.

TheElephantGirl, surely if the rule changes about keeping the window open, the school need to adjust and change the rules about wearing thermal underneath/wearing coat in the classroom.
I'm sure other parents want this too, not just you. Maybe you can gather together as parents and request the review on uniform rules?

FYI, my dc's primary had no issue about wearing something underneath, even wearing long sleeved shirt under the pe shirt in the winter was totally fine. So other school do it.

Tootsey11 that's completely different because outdoor workers are moving around. I get too hot at work because I'm also constantly moving (healthcare) and have always hated breathing other people's air and the smell of closed rooms with too many (or any) people in them. I have always opened windows all year around. However our residents complain about being cold and want all the windows closed because they're (with a couple of notable exceptions) not constantly moving. Now when it's colleagues who are cold I have less sympathy - do some of the running around! But people who are less mobile, whether die to health or to having to sit still in school/ at desk jobs will feel the cold more than people with physical jobs, obviously. Dressing appropriately is essential and common sense.

Btw I don't think teens not wearing coats is an intrinsic teen thing, I think it's a conequence of school uniforms. I live in Germany - no school uniforms, teenagers dress sensibly... Yes, I have two of my own, one boy and one girl.

The added advantage is that they’ll use up more calories (good for the chubby children)
What about the normal children? I'm a sole parent with a healthy slim teenager, I don't need the food bill to go up. I do support windows open and think the children will be fine, but many families are struggling to feed children as it is!

My dd (16yo) asked me to get her some this morning.
Ds (13yo) otoh is still going to school in shorts and t-shirt and laughed when i asked if he wanted trousers.

Those buying merino wool, please make sure it's from a cruelty-free supplier

@Callipygion

Don’t schools/offices have to close if temp falls below 17 degrees or something?

Gove got rid of that. My classroom was regularly 13c in winter.

TheElephantGirl that's completely ridiculous and worth kicking up an absolutely massive fuss about (very politely indeed, in writing, copying in everyone you can think of) in coordination with as many other parents as possible! Involved the PTA. Escalate to chair of governors fairly swiftly if the senior management team are of the strutting bantom rooster ilk and respond illogically or dismissively.

If the children can't safely return to their pegs this needs sorting out logistically, and thermals must be allowed under uniform.

@pastandpresent

TheElephantGirl, surely if the rule changes about keeping the window open, the school need to adjust and change the rules about wearing thermal underneath/wearing coat in the classroom. I'm sure other parents want this too, not just you. Maybe you can gather together as parents and request the review on uniform rules?

FYI, my dc's primary had no issue about wearing something underneath, even wearing long sleeved shirt under the pe shirt in the winter was totally fine. So other school do it.

Apparently thermals rule is because it makes the uniform look scruffy so will try and get that changed.

The coats rule I can sort of understand, year 2 share a cloakroom with year 1, this year they've split the cloakroom into a year 1 and a year 2 side, you walk passed the two year 1 classrooms to get to the cloakroom. There's a door straight out onto the playground from the classroom so they avoid the crossing each other by going in through the cloakroom in the morning and not passing passed the year 1 rooms once year 2 are in their rooms.

@Tootsey11

I think this thread shows how many children are that used to over centrally heated houses and cannot tolerate a bit of freshness. How do you all think outdoor workers cope during the winter. Your children will not die with the windows open.

I am sorry, but that’s nonsense.

Working or exercising outdoors in the cold is very different to sitting still at a desk in the cold.

I just saw this thread on here and then I saw someone promoting this company on Instagram. Might be worth a look - don't know if they do kids' sizes but may be ok for older kids: www.instagram.com/hotsquash_london/

Btw I don't think teens not wearing coats is an intrinsic teen thing, I think it's a conequence of school uniforms. I live in Germany - no school uniforms, teenagers dress sensibly... Yes, I have two of my own, one boy and one girl

No the Germans just feel the cold more and tell you that you are going to catch a cold by being cold. I have a fantastic picture of my son with a German friend's son when they were about 5 and 4. German son has warm coat, zipped up, hat, gloves etc. My son was just wearing a coat which was open, no hat, no gloves It's just a cultural thing and starts young!

We live our lives in hermetically sealed environments these days. It’s good to feel the weather.

You obviously don't live in the north of Scotland!