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 can understand that the rules are different at nursery and home.

The issue is the clothing, that's all.

I live in Germany and they would laugh at you if you suggested this. Also surely the staff are outside supervising the other children, so who would you expect to watch him?

😂

Were you perhaps raised in a culture nearer the Equator where the day lengths are more equal? Assuming you are in the UK now, not going out in the dark will be very limiting. Perhaps concentrate on teaching him how to dress appropriately when going outside so he doesn't get cold If he is upset about being cold perhaps talk to the staff but as others have said perhaps he refuses.

He should be fine learning that things are different at home and nursery. I can understand if you are wanting to get a meal ready you can't drop everything to go outside and watch him. Maybe if you don't want to supervise at home then outdoor play could be something he does with your partner or a trusted uncle/ aunt.

He will get darked on obviously. The same thing that happens if you leave your washing out overnight.

I've heard it all now.

Were you perhaps raised in a culture nearer the Equator where the day lengths are more equal?

I was just coming to say OP would struggle in a country like that! I was in such a country recently where it was dark around 6pm every day and there were families playing on the beach in the dark; they'd set up some powerful floodlights to light up a patch of sea for swimming.

We often take our DC on 'dark' walks with headtorches.

OP your DC just needs appropriate clothing to enjoy playing out in the dark. He can look at the stars😊

@Singlema99

I think your child may be more likely to get ill from being cooped up indoors.

If I was running non stop for 15mins, I might even feel inclined to take a layer off. Even if it’s cold.

I’m sure if your DC has coat, hat, gloves they’ll be fun - and kids love being outside in the dark.

I didn’t know kids were like laundry and suffered from being “darked” 😂

Ges been hapoy when you picked him up. You sound ridiculous not letting a child go out in the dark.

Op said 'when it's black outside'....black!! What does that even mean?? Bloody weird

If it's a question of being too busy to supervise a pre schooler in the garden after work, then you have "no playing in the garden after nursery" as a rule.

Otherwise, you have an issue in the summer months, when it's not dark until much later.

That would be very unreasonable of you. I currently live in a country where the sun doesn’t rise until about 9:30am and goes down just after 4pm… and soon it’s only going to be daylight from about 11:30am - 3pm.
Children here go outside in any weather and are dressed appropriately. So even if my son hates gloves, hats, scarves and zipping up his coat he goes outside. And he is never sick (maybe once a year, if that) so I say let them be outside and for the sake of your sanity, don’t ask the nursery to make him stay inside. It’s not even possible at most nurseries I’ve worked in.

You would be U because nurseries have ratios and asking them to keep him in means other kids also can't go out and play. Outdoor play is good for kids and the dark will not harm him.

It's also unreasonable not to send him to nursery with appropriate warm clothes for the weather and I'm sure the nursery will have recommended this.

As long as they are dressed appropriately, what difference does it make if it's dark? You are being ridiculous. The fact you don't go to the park in the dark is your choice, mine did in winter, dog needed walking and it wasn't fenced. Some places get dark very early in winter

This isn't a joke you know. He could turn into a pumpkin.

Ratios wouldn’t make this possible, the children go outside after tea so the practitioners can clean the room and set it up for the morning. Hard to do that with 23 3-5 yo under your feet!

Not being adequately dressed for cold weather is the problem here.

What is your problem with being out in the dark OP?

OP, if you're still reading, please don't limit your son's development. You might have good reasons for not allowing him in your garden after dark but the nursery garden will be different. I had a child who would never wear a hat or gloves but they have grown up very healthily. It's hard to play in gloves anyway. Pop him in an extra warm vest and joggers.

My DC loved a "dark picnic" in the garden when it wasn't too cold for sitting still. A string or two of fairy lights and/or some lanterns made it more magical.

When he is a bit older, find a place without street lights on a clear night. Take a rug and lie down to watch the stars. It is literally awesome.

Go for a walk in December to see all the Christmas lights. It was a Christmas Eve tradition in our family right up to teens.

If there is anywhere near you that does night time nature activities take him along. Badger watching, bat watching, that sort of thing.

Embrace the dark, there is too much of it to hide away indoors all the time.

You know you are being utterly ridiculous right??

Send your child in adequate clothing!! It's not 'confusing' at all (you might be 'confused' but 'the message', whatever that means, won't be confusing! All nurseries spend as much time outdoors as possible, at all times of year...so you, the parent, need to provide the right type of clothing for this ffs!! 🤦‍♀️)

Get a grip.

@ImJustAGirlInACountrySong
Op said 'when it's black outside'....black!! What does that even mean?? Bloody weird

It is a very common expression where I live. Another is 'it's pitch black outside' ( pitch meaning tar which is black in colour)
The op means outside is very dark. Not sure why it's weird, especially this time of year! 🙄

Hmmm by this logic is it ok 👍 for they keep your child outside playing at 11pm in June?
Quite an odd rule

Wow🤦🏼‍♀️
Some of the best memories we can make is running outside in the dark to play in the snow!
You are being ridiculous

I really don't think OP is suggesting her child never participates in outside activities while supervised in the dark. There was minimal light in our garden in the winter at night.We could switch on flood lights but there were still areas further away (large garden next to a pitched black field) that weren't suitable for a young child to be left alone.

Goodness me OP, I guess the fact you have not come back with a reply means you now realise how ridiculous you are being?