To ask nursery not to let my child play outside when it’s dark out

[Singlema99]

I collect my child from nursery at about 5pm, often children are playing outside however this time of year it’s almost black outside from 4pm and at home my child knows he can’t play in the garden after dark the same way I wouldn’t take him to the park in the dark.

would it be unreasonable to ask the nursery to keep him in from 4pm

mainly because the message is confusing but also often he’s not adequately dressed to be outside not wearing gloves and hat and has been happy but freezing several times picking him up.

Children don’t need to be sheltered from everything, being outside in the dark is fine.

Not being dressed suitably is the issue.

Send him in with appropriate clothing and ask that he wears it. The rest of it is just madness on your part. I’m sure he is supervised and the outside area is lit.

He needs to be dressed appropriately but being outside in the dark won’t do him any harm.

What Do you think is going to happen to your child in the dark? YABU

I can't see the issue with him playing outside in the dark. Maybe mention you'd like him to have his hat and gloves on but even that wouldn't bother me.

I used to take mine out to look at the stars on a clear night tbh.

Presumably the outside play is supervised.
Why are you so intent to make your child scared of the dark?

They learn different rules different places ..

I used to c/mind Ds’s best mate …

He understood when he was there as a minded child he couldn’t go in Ds’s bedroom as soon as minded hours were over if he stayed as a mate he could . That’s an example but he adapted well.

Mine would lie on the grass in the dark and look at the night sky!
Why is he not allowed in your own garden in the dark ?

If they are supervised I don't see the issue- isn't it good that they are outside?

This wouldn't bother me at all.

Kids understand very early on that the rules are different at home and at nursery so that aspect is fine.

And there's nothing wrong with playing outside in the secure nursery garden in the dark.

I chose a nursery based on how much time they spent outdoors! I think it’s good for them. Dark, light, drizzle, snow, sun, I was fine with it all.

Quite often now we’ll go into town at night wandering round!

I would say as long as he’s adequately dressed, outside with his friends is good. Maybe have a word about putting his hat/gloves on.

There's no vampires in the dark

Let him play outside

Just make sure he has hat and gloves but he might take them off by choice anyway!

And yes, YWBU to ask nursery to keep him in when the rest of the room are out. It's a group setting.

Why are you teaching him to be scared of the dark ?

But, as a pp said, children cope very well with having one rule in one place and another in a different place.

YABU

What is the dark going to do to him? Why can't he go in the garden in the dark at home?

If you think he is cold ask them if they could put a hat and gloves on him but to be honest being a bit cold but happy every now and again isn't going to harm him either.

Just make sure he's dressed appropriately for the weather. My kids love playing out in the dark it feels extra fun & wild.

Why would you not let him play in the garden or the park in the dark?

I think PPs are missing the OPs point: she happens to have a no playing outside in the dark rule at home and she wants to reinforce this rule at nursery.

Obviously that's completely unreasonable, and also unnecessary since children understand there are different rules in different places. But I didn't get the impression the OP was scared of the dark.

Yes he should be dressed appropriately that's separate.

Some parents people are just weird. Your child will not go bad if he’s darked on at nursery.

You'd be creating an issue where other children can go outside but he must be made to stay inside.

Make sure he has the right clothing but I don't think nursery can or should separate a child from other children.

My 4yo was put in the dark today coming home from swimming. He walks home from after-school club in the dark three times a week. If we kept him in when it's dark it would be a pretty boring and difficult winter

Send your child in with warmer clothes, and if you do want to keep your rule about not going out in garden when it's dark just explain nursery has a different rule to home, like they have different mealtimes etc

Are you scared of the spider willies?

We deliberately go out in the dark because it's fun for kids! We often take DS out on a pyjama wall and he has a torch which he thinks is fab. I've had him out in roller skates in the dark recently. I have an ulterior motive of walking the dog but I love it for DS because it's exciting for him!