4 year old freezing cold at school

[Owlsoutsidethewindow]

Just wondering if anyone would say something to school.
Temperatures are currently around -2c on average where I live. Yesterday DS (4, reception) came out of school looking upset. I asked what was wrong and she said she was cold. She had literally just walked out of a heated classroom.

As the hour went on, what had transpired is that she asked to go indoors or home at lunch time because she was freezing. She was wearing a vest, uniform, jumper, thick parka, earmuffs and gloves. The teacher was dismissive.
She doesn't generally run around when it is that cold because she knows the ground will be icy.

She then said she was cold all afternoon. She was physically cold to the touch when I felt her. No fever etc.
She didn't warm up until she had a bath, then she went to bed with fleecy PJs and a hot water bottle because she felt miserable.

Should I ask the school to make a warm area available for her to go to in these sorts of temperatures? It wouldn't surprise me at all if she was ill today when she woke up.
She probably also has the onset of a cold because 4 people in her class have been off this week, so playing out in freezing temperatures probably isn't ideal.

Cold doesn't make you cold, germs do. She probably is coming down with something. Given there is four out this is the more logical reason.

You can get sports base layers to replace her vest. But no I wouldn't be asking the teacher to have a warm area for her she should have been warm enough in what you describe.

I'm sure they grit the school playground, so it should be safe for her to run about with the others. What sort of shoes does she wear, are they warm enough and with decent grips? She really should move around a bit at breaks, so I'd try and encourage her to do so, reassure her that the ground is safe and that moving is good for her in lots of ways.

The problem with "a warm area for her to go" is that it needs staffing and at break times that might be tricky.

What was she wearing on her bottom half? She might need extra layers to keep warm.

Sounds like she is coming down with something

I am always freezing before I am ill

Is the vest thermal? Thermal leggings under trousers? Sounds like she is feeling the cold as she is ill.

I wouldn't stand outside in my lunch break, I'm not sure why children are expected to. I'd be cross tbh

Being cold won't make her unwell and they can't have an indoor area for her as they will need someone to supervise her. If she's cold look at adding extra layers of clothing such as tights under her trousers.

The problem isn't so much that it's cold it's that she's sitting in the cold and not moving to help herself stay warm. Remind her the playground will be fine to run on, all her peers will be doing so and if it was unsafe they wouldn't be going outside.

As others have said it sounded as though what she was wearing was fine and that she's probably coming down with something.

The playground will have been safe otherwise they wouldn't have let them out. Being outside a bit in winter ensures she gets her vitamin D and running round ensures she gets her 30 minutes activity a day. Except if she's poorly, obviously.

Does she have some medical needs which affect her ability to stay warm? Otherwise, I think it's difficult to argue for special treatment. We've been sending DS to school in multiple layers this week- leggings below his trousers, long sleeved t shirt under his vest. Could that be an option? I thought it was going to get milder for almost everyone from today onwards so hopefully not an issue you'll have again.

This.
If a parent left a 4 year old just stood in the garden in 3c for an hour pp's would suggest ringing social services.

My youngest is a bit nesh so I get him to wear his football base layer under his uniform, I would also really encourage her to get moving somehow at playtime. It's horrible being cold.

Anyone suggesting ringing social services would rightfully be told to stop being so melodramatic. A child in appropriate clothing for the weather outside playing for 40 minutes (allowing time to eat her lunch) is not a child protection issue.

Stick an extra vest on her, and a long sleeve/thermal tshirt. Leggings under trousers or thermal tights.

My son's school give the choice of staying indoors or going outdoors when it is cold (I think they have a set temperature for this rule), but he's only in reception so they're outside for a lot more time than other classes. Not sure it's the same for okder kids.

You cant expect special treatment.
Unfortunately if your dd doesn't want to move around in the playground then she'll feel the cold more.

She is in a thermal vest. Problem is if I layer her up too much then she'll be boiling all morning and afternoon outside of lunch breaks.

There is usually a TA in the classroom as there is a child there that is often kept off of breaks due to bad behaviour (don't get me started on my views to that approach) so there is somebody inside.

It is currently -6c outside this morning so likely around 0 by lunchtime.

Tell her to run around at lunchtime.

Kindly, it’s no use complaining to the school. They can’t make an exception to your one child (give her a “special” warm area), and presumably don’t have the space or staffing to do indoor breaktime for everyone.

Children in cold countries don’t just stay indoors all the time. The parents just have to dress them appropriately. Just keep adding layers.

4 yr olds should be running around. If she’s just standing there I’d be more worried about that, tbh.

A bigger concern is why she isn't playing with the other kids.

In much colder climes than ours kids play outdoors, it really isn't a temperature issue.

Thermal base layers are a good idea for very cold temperatures but they need to be able to remove enough clothing for the warm classroom. But I would also remind you that 50 years ago we wore skirts and ankle socks in winter, not tights and the boys wore shorts! We coped

Also the play ground doesn't appear to be gritted. I live next door and can see the school, never see grit going down and don't spot it on the playground at any point.

She can take off her jumper when indoors, then, if she’d be too hot indoors with extra layers. Or you could send her with a fleece to wear under her coat.

What is she wearing her bottom half? Can she wear trousers? Or warm tights?

does anyone remember back in covid in minus weather schools had all the windows open? My dc sat in coats in the classroom 😩

more layers, leggings under trousers etc. sounds like she’s getting ill as she shouldn’t be cold if dressed appropriately. My nephew plays out at lunch at school in Canada at -40.

I agree. The playground isn't going to be icy and unsafe, so you need to reassure your daughter that she can run and play with her friends. If she's moving around then she won't feel the cold as much. Staying inside isn't an option, so the best thing to do would be to encourage your DD to move around more at break times.