Outside classroom?!

[julezboo]

Hi all

Im a bit concerned about my ds (4.5) He started reception back in september. When he started, they introduced a new thing, they have a sheltered area inside their playground and since beginning of term it has been used as an outside classroom, where they do painting/sand/ water and other things.

While this was a good idea at the beginning of sept whilst it was still warm, my concern is growing fast. DS has asthma and a always suffers through the winter with his chest. It was a result of an early birth. Yesterday he woke up poorly so I kept him off. But this morning is was raining hard, and cold we had our big coats on. It was freezing, I was surprised to see the "outside classroom" still set up. I have took ds in today with his inhalers and asked the teacher if they was going to do PE outside today could Matthew sit it out inside while hes still no a hundred percent.

Do you think i should mention my concern to his teacher? Has anybody elses children got outside classrooms? Any advice would be welcome, i would hate for ds to miss school or worse, get sick if he doesnt need to!

thanks in advance x x

I think if you have a specific health concern, then you must talk to the school about it.

However, our reception classes have a partly-covered outside area which is used as much as possible, all year round, and it really seems to benefit the children. And things like welly walks go on in all weathers.

So I would say the outside area is a good thing, but obviously if you know your child has potential problems in particular weather conditions, then make sure the teacher knows this and they should make sure your son stays inside when appropriate.

Our 3 reception classes share one big covered outside classroom. It is left set up all year round as the children are encouraged to use it whenever possible.
The outside classroom is also used as part of the 'choosing' activity where the child is allowed his/her own activity.

I can't see that your ds would be forced to go outside whilst poorly, but on the other hand he should be encouraged to go outside whenever possible as fresh air and activity are good for mental health!!

julezboo - I agree that if you are concerned then you must raise it. This is your child's health - the most important thing in the world.

I'm really neurotic at the moment with ds1 - he's just in yr 1. In February he had quite severe pneumonia and already he is starting to get a chesty cough. I really don't want him to end up with pneumonia again - I know he will be a little bit more prone to it for a while.

I'm just putting vests on, he is in winter uniform now (long sleeved white shirt/tie rather than polo shirt) and I tell him he must keep his jumper on and put his coat on while outside otherwise he'll end up back in hospital I also bought him knee high, quite woolly socks to wear under his trousers!

I don't think they work outside though. If he did, I would raise it, no question.

Mind you, it's actually quite mild here today!!

My reception unit has an outside classroom which is set up regardless of the weather. (research shows children benefit immensely won't bore you with it now.) We operate a system where children can choose whether they are inside or out. (I've been known to be out there in pouring weather with my flowery wellies and goretex on in the pouring rain!) iN my experience only handful go out in the rain etc. (and it's always the same ones). I think you should ask the teacher to keep an eye on your DS if he chooses to go outside in cold weather and ask her to suggested if he's weezy that he stays in. Also always send him into school with a good waterproof, wellies hat, scarf and gloves. It's amazing how many people don't.

Do share any concerns with the teacher, it's important parents have open communication with teachers

I think if he is not well enough to run around, then you need to seriously think about keeping him off school. Surely, he'll be charging about at break time outside anyway?

In reception, they have an outside bit (with a climbing wall, sandpit and water play) but they have to wear boots and a coat to play in it.

I know it is hard with asthma - dd has it and she is affected by the cold but if I felt she wasn't able to run around, then I would keep her off.

I think you should mention your concerns to the teacher but also be wary of segregating your ds from the rest, especially if this is a concern to you now and the cold hasn't really even started yet. I also think one of the best people to talk to is the school nurse as she/he is often the one who keeps an eye on the asthmatic children and they may have procedures in place to deal with inhalers, times when they are wheezy etc. and it may be worth finding out what these are now.

As an athsma sufferer all my life I have to say that the weather we're having atm...ie cool, wet and windy, is the least troublesome. I find very cold, dry weather a problem. I also find very hot dry weather a problem. But not this. Until it was really cold I can't see how an outside classroom can be anything but good for kids' health generally. They aren't getting rained on. IME central heating (and at our school its at tropical temps most of the winter!!!) is much worse for athsma and general chest complaints.

If he has a chest infection then obviously it's a no-no but for athsma I wouldn't worry. I should play it by ear but mention your general concerns to his teacher anyway.

Joe my son is asthmatic and is just like you, cold, crisp days in Winter set him off.

That said, we now have the appropriate treatment that makes sure that he isn't set off as much as he was.

As a general point I would think that if something is setting off asthma on a regular basis ,then the person probably needs more preventative treatment.

My son has no problems coping with the cold as long as we are using his inhalers as we should, that way his life isn't affected so much my the asthma IYSWIM.

ITA Martianbishop - I use preventative inhalers all the time - I sometimes wish I didn't have to but I know the consequences of stopping. So 99% of the time I'm fine but the extremes of dry weather still set things off.

Oh, and the same is true with ds.....but in general I don't think an asthmatic child should be excluded from out door activities in the general run of things, andif it is a regular issue, then the meds probably need to be looked at.

Agreed. It shouldn't be a major problem for anyone. No-one apart from my family knows that I'm quite a severe athsmatic.