Nursery Don’t Let Kids Outside Because it’s Cold

[FanofLeaves]

And I think it’s ridiculous.

its not a particularly spacious place as it is (inner city) but they have climbing equipment and bikes, a sandpit etc outside. ‘garden time’ is easily my son’s favourite part of the day. He’s 4 and just missed going to school this year so he’s feeling pretty frustrated as it is but he’s been livid this week that his outdoor fun has been curtailed.

Anyway, apparently it’s been ‘too cold’ this week to be outside even in a short burst. I pointed out that my son has mittens, a thick winter coat, woolly hat, boots and an extra jumper if needed, and one of the staff said that not all of the children do so it’s ’not very fair’ to have some out but not others. In fact they seemed a bit surprised that I wanted him to be outside in ‘these low temperatures’.

AIBU to think that a) it’s the staff not wanting to go out and be cold and b) they can’t be arsed to put hats/coats/gloves on the small children that can’t do it themselves.

Because I really can’t think of a valid reason not to let children outside, I know it’s been chilly and yeah I get staying in while it was raining for a bit yesterday but apart from that, we live in the south of England- and there’s no need to keep kids cooped up inside just because it happens to be winter.

Son only attends 3 days a week but they’re full days. When he’s with me we go out to the big parks, scoot everywhere, climb trees, out on waterproofs to be out in the puddles etc. I really notice a shift in his behaviour when he’s not had fresh air and active outdoor time. I don’t drive either so sometimes we just need to get from A to B whatever the weather.

Any other nurseries have this ridiculous policy? Would you agree with it if they did?

I work in a nursery and we aim to be out 3 hours per day. We haven’t reached that target this week due to many children not having proper winter clothing (hat, gloves etc) some are well equipped but we do not have enough spares for everyone. Multiple reminders to parents have been sent out re winter wear.

We have been out 3 times a day (morning, afternoon and after tea) for 30-45 mins at a time depending on how cold / unhappy the children are.

To not go out at all is shocking and under the EYFS requirements children should access the outdoors environment daily.

How cold actually is it? When we lived in Chicago daycare had this policy but it applied 20 Fahrenheit or below (equivalent to about -7 celsius). If it anything above freezing then that’s ridiculous though. Parents just need reminding to pack coats and gloves.

Totally ridiculous, look for another nursery. Mine were out a lot at nursery and they much preferred being outdoors

Is this even allowed nowadays? My son’s nursery has them out every day unless there’s literally a storm. Many nurseries now are free flow.

When I was teaching in Switzerland, in a school for ages 3 to 11, we had the children out all winter. We had one stretch of cold weather when it was below -20°C for three weeks straight. Yes the children went out to play, and yes, I took my ski pants and ski jacket in with me to do playground duty.

My kids nursery would send reminder to send in a winter suit to keep at nursery then it would be swapped for raincoat in summer. They were both out in all weathers, my daughter loved splashing in the rain.

My daughter's nursery go out every single day. They were out there in the dark tonight :)
Understand many/ most don't have warm clothing but surely nursery could buy a load of spares from the charity shop or ask for donations etc.

God, I'd love if my kid's nursery were ever as sensible as this.

In Scandinavian nurseries they are out every single day; Rain or snow. Children wear special clothing for Rain and boots and ski clothes when it's snowy.

Either the staff is precious or parents haven't sent in/been told to send in warm clothes so that the children can be outside. As a sahm I took my children outside everyday except when it was raining heavily. DS1 had so much energy that he needed outside play.

The staff don’t fancy it that’s really clear. Ask them what the policy is on outdoor play…

We got some very blurry photos of DD careening around in the snow! I’d be annoyed if they were shut inside all day.

That is not good, children need to be outside in all weathers (except for actual extremes like storms). Nursery needs to make sure parents send their children in with appropriate clothing and have some spares for the occasional forgotten item. I'm in Finland and when my children were in nursery they only kept them inside if it was colder than -15, and I thought that was a bit weak of them really, my children played outside in much colder weather than that (and napped outside in colder as babies

He can come and play with us OP! Run a childcare setting for 4-11 year olds and we get out for atleast 30 mins every session unless it is literally a storm.

Many parents have asked if their child can stay in this week as it is too cold but it is our policy (and my belief!) That children should have a run around in the fresh air after a day at school.

He can come and play with us OP! Run a childcare setting for 4-11 year olds and we get out for atleast 30 mins every session unless it is literally a storm.

Many parents have asked if their child can stay in this week as it is too cold but it is our policy (and my belief!) That children should have a run around in the fresh air after a day at school.

When my DDs were at nursery they were out most days unless it was raining heavily.

I’d agree that it’s the staff who can’t be arsed

What's sensible about keeping kids cooped up indoors just because it's cold?

That's ridiculous. It's cold but it's not that cold. It's not your fault or your kids fault that other children aren't dressed appropriately.

Some of my kids always hated the cold and didn't want to go out but were made to quite often due to ratios etc. My youngest hates gloves (sensory issues), but also hates being cold. Others just hate being cold and don't feel comfortable running around wrapped up. Probably milder sensory issues.

Just to give an alternate perspective on possible reasons, my son has asthma attacks triggered by the cold. There may be needs keeping them inside rather than just poor choices.

I'm sure that when mine was there I was told OFSTED/early years framework requires daily outdoor access.

Not allowing children outside is bad practice, and if you wanted to you could probably find plenty of professional guidance that supports children being outside in all weathers. In your position, I’d find some and remind them of their obligations. If not all children would be safe to go outside because their parents have failed to provide what they need, then they can either provide it, or keep those children in. The should not be restricting the rights of children out of convenience, and because their staff don’t want to go out.

I’d hope of there were more valid reasons for keeping them inside though it could have been communicated (and it still raises the question if its fair for a majority to miss out for the minority because the nursery can’t manage their needs) but the only reason I got was ‘it’s been too cold’.

I feel for the children that don’t have appropriate weather clothing if that’s the case, but I’d happily donate warm things to keep there as spares for others as I’m sure many parents would- in fact I’ve inadvertently done this already over the two years he’s been there because countless socks, jumpers gloves and hats have been lost to nursery.

But none of that is a reason to keep all the kids cooped up inside all day. I say that as someone with autism and sensory issues myself.

So keep the kids that have health issues inside, and let the others go out.

I wouldn’t be happy with this at all. Very lucky that DSs nursery have outside open all day and kids are welcome to come and go as between the garden and playroom all day, other than meal times. There are waterproof suits and wellies for all children. We are asked to send in hats and gloves but the nursery also get a lovely donation of hats from a local knitting group each year which the kids also have access to.
Outdoors is only closed if there is a severe weather warning.