AIBU to keep my child off school sports day in 32C heat?

[Saralocky28]

School sports day tomorrow and where I live it's saying 32 degrees. It's all in an open sports field, no shade. AIBU to refuse my child to go? Usually it's 4 hours of constant activity. Yes they can stop to cool down and have a drink but it's all outside.

Very mixed in the parent WhatsApp. It was already canceled two weeks ago because of the heat but tomorrow is going to be even warmer!

I know my son will want to go but as his mum I'm worried he'll get dehydrated/sunstroke. Or am I being ridiculous!

We were just in Turkey last week and it was 32 degrees. I had to keep going in the pool every 20 mins to cool down and was only in a bikini and was sitting in the shade from 12 till 3.

It's madness to have little kids in direct sunlight in that heat, doing sport which they won't be used to in such hot weather.

No, you misunderstand me.

'Fuck it', as in given that there were no closure notice issued by the local authority, we did not have an option to close. 'Fuck it' as in we know there's no point in complaining and wringing our hands: we have to find workable solutions to keep children safe in education (you are clearly familiar with this statutory requirement). 'Fuck it' as in needing to make decisions about provision based on unreasonable conditions: all classrooms to hot? Classes migrating to learning in the shade outdoors, in a cool corridor, in the hall; breaks spent not playing but sitting in pockets of shade in the playground, reading, playing games or crafting.

That kind of 'fuck it'. Because we really care. For many children, a school closure means they are not able to be kept safe in education and we ensure, even when school does shut, that those families are still cared for by senior leadership and the children fed.

'The new normal' is exactly what this is. We, as professionals working with children in schools and other education settings, will do everything we can to mitigate the direct impact of the changing climate on our workplaces. What about the phrase suggests we would not? It is part of keeping children safe in education. We cannot change that 'some bad thing is happening' -current rising global temperatures are now locked in, despite climate scientists and activists having warned of precisely this scenario for decades- it truly is outwith our control. But we, as is our primary focus every day, move mountains if necessary (although this week, it has 'only' been a case of moving learning spaces) to keep children safe. And you'd be surprised at how helpful a dose of gritty 'fuck it' is to mobilise change for the benefit of children.

I do wonder what people do when they go on holiday and its hot? Do they worry about the heat and stay inside, or do they put suncream and a hat on and get on with life?

I find it's sensible to do what the locals do. Which is stay indoors during the hottest part of the day. There's a reason Mediterranean countries rise early, and eat and socialise much later at night than we do in the uk. Their bodies are also acclimatised to the temperatures, so there's that as well.

On a hot holiday you can cool off in the sea or swimming pool, wouldn’t normally exercise for 4 hours straight in the full sun, can have a long lunch in the shade to avoid the midday sun/peak UV and there’s always the option to nap in an air conditioned bedroom should it be needed. It’s in no way comparable.

I know I'm missing your point, just offering that when you have cooled off, if you put on lightweight, light-coliured billowy full-coverage clothes (long sleeves and long legs), you will insulate your cooler body temp close to your skin and it will take longer for you to feel hot again.

I’d let him have the day off on Sports Day even if it wasn’t too hot tbh.

Update on sports day.... we arrived at 10am and it got cut short and finished at 11.30. Absolutely the right thing to do and kept everyone safe!

Absolutely crazy, school should be cancelling. We are being told to be sensible and keep cool and here school think activity in 32c is a good idea.

I'd firstly email and ask them to use their common sense and cancel, if they plough on regardless keep your ds off.

Phew. Idiots going ahead with it in the first place though!