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’ve worked in a nursery myself and would go absolutely bonkers not to set foot outside during the day. Some workers hated going out in the cold so it was usually a rota system or people like me who didn’t mind volunteering to do it. Either way I can’t recall a time where we didn’t go out at least once.

Such a shame OP, my dd is in reception and the first thing the teacher said to her class as they arrived on Wednesday during the snow was 'don't worry kids, no phonics this morning... we'll come outside to play in it as soon as the register's done'

Out door days at usual at our daughters forest nursery along as temperatures are above -15, if a parent chooses not to bring appropriate clothing the child isn’t allowed to attend nursery at all, it works a treat.

My son will wear a jumper and (certain types of coat) and jeans/trousers. That's not going to get anyone done for neglect, but nor is he warm enough on very cold days. Wearing more than that would be intolerable for him. It's fine if travel is short and he's mostly inside.

This is all standard autism stuff. As in, it's not unusual for an autistic person to find themselves in this predicament. If they didnt have predicaments like this, they probably wouldn't be diagnosed as autistic and receive PIP.

His future isn't in outdoor work.

He probably won't move to Canada. He tries lots of things all day every day and succeeds at many of them. He doesn't have to also try to withstand cold weather outside in case he has to become a farmer one day.

There are plenty of autistic children in my country, they all learn to wear weather appropriate clothing no matter how difficult it for them. Only wearing a jumper and trousers would absolutely be neglect this time of year here, you would get a visit from the social workers and advice on how to get your child to adjust.

But her child IS cross about it. He wants to be outside and playing.

As another poster said yes it’s cold this week but their cutoff temperature for outside play in Chicago is -7c. Half an hour outside, running about etc at whatever temperature it is in the UK atm wont harm kids.
As soon as I saw the thread title @FanofLeaves my first thought was “I bet it’s because the staff would rather be indoors”.

My son's sensory issues mean that he find wearing more clothes than that intolerable and nothing about his day would be productive. There is no social worker who could change that. What they could do is force him to feel uncomfortable and make school a horrible place where he feels unsafe and overwhelmed.

I could do that too, but it wouldn't be in anyone's interests.

Who said anything about outdoor work?

Statutory Guidance says children should have access to outdoor play every day, so “it’s too cold” isn’t really a valid excuse — maybe shorter sessions, but not avoiding it entirely.

I do get that it can be a huge faff getting everyone wrapped up, especially when parents don't always provide suitable clothes (there’s a special place in hell for finger gloves on toddlers) But outdoor time is essential for children and they definitely shouldn't be skipping it.

Everyone who insists he must learn to spend time outside in layers and layers of clothes

No, they're just talking about regular daily life in a country where you can't control the weather and where you can't always avoid getting cold or wet or uncomfortable.

So what about autistic people in Scandinavia then where cold lot of the year

I'm sure some of them have similar issues but remember it isn't like every single autistic person has the same sensory issues to the same degree. There are likely autistic children in his class who don't have this issue at all. My son doesn't have food aversions. Many other autistic children do. It would like me saying those kids just have to eat what everyone else eats with no adjustments made for their disability. It won't kill them, they might just be upset.

You cant always avoid it but you can definitely minimise it with door to door transport.

Which isn't always possible.

Would be where we live.

So you live somewhere where cars never break down? Where public transport always runs on time? Where weather is always 100% predictable and you and your son can always guarantee you'll get from A to B on time, no matter what?

I don't think so, somehow 😂

Yes it's called Inner London 2025. As long as you check beforehand, you can be sure of the weather and leave in time to get an alternative route if needs be. We live a short walk from two tube stations, one with national rail service and all the buses and Uber drivers that you could imagine. That's why I/we will likely never leave.

The social worker wouldn't change that, you'd have to. I'm sure you'd find a way to help your child adjust to the cold if you were under investigation for neglect. Or would you just carry on as you are and risk the consequences?

Why would I be investigated for neglect?

I think id be more likely to be investigated if I dragged my son outside retching and crying in clothes he found intolerable because I insist he gets used to being outside in cold weather.

Everything has a balance. Everyone has their own unique equilibrium. His is in clothes he finds tolerable and in temperatures that those clothes can withstand. That's how he lives his best life.

Why on earth does anyone care so much about someone else's autistic child not liking to be cold 😂

If you continually failed to provide weather appropriate clothing for nursery where I am then staff would have to make a child protection report because that would be, by definition, neglect.

They are right that some dc may have inappropriate clothing but I don’t think other dc should be penalised! Up in the Nordic countries they go out in thick snow daily at school and nursery but everyone has appropriate gear