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.

Look into merino vests/leggings/tights as they are super warm and breathable.

I’d be more concerned that a 4 year old isn’t keen to run about because she “knows it will be icy”, where has she got this fear from?

Falling over last week on ice while running and splitting her lip, in the school playground.

My son went to school on Tuesday with the start of a cold, he wanted to go in, I explained at drop off that he wasn’t feeling well but wanted to come in. I picked him up at home time and he was grey, cold to touch and immediately cried as soon as he saw me. He told me he felt so poorly and cold. He’d asked to go in at lunchtime but was told no. He was the same he couldn’t get warm and was layered up to the max for the evening and overnight. I kept him home in the warm Wednesday. He went back Thursday because he felt well enough.

It is so tricky. We always get reminder emails from the school (not directed at us, everyone gets them) about expectations around attendance....but all of them are constantly sick! And I really don't believe that going our in sub zero temps when they're all sharing gems anyway is great, call me what you want.

Worth noting we don't live in a generally cold part of England.

My DSDs school have playtime inside when it's really cold like it has been or if it's raining. I remember play time when I was little and I hated it when it was cold. We used to hang about in the toilets for a heat but would sometimes be shooed out if caught. I remember me and friends huddling together to keep warm. Like others have said, adults aren't expected to stand outside in the freezing cold so why do we expect little kids to do it. Playtime is supposed to be a treat for them, a break from school work. It's hardly that if they're absolutely freezing.

A bit of a handy drip feed, but ok

I'd just say she had an appointment of some sort and keep her inside for lunch time and then take her back.

I sympathise because I absolutely hate going outside when it's this cold. Even when i'm wrapped up I just find it miserable.

Not really a drip feed as it's not an important detail in regards to my original question, which is should they have access to a warm space at lunch/breaks. I didn't think mentioning bumps, bruises, or her general opinions about running in the playground was worth elaborating on and turning the first post in to an essay.

Not a bad idea (bringing her home at lunch time) as I'm so close to the school.

Owlsoutsidethewindow Don’t get me started on the attendance reminders! 😊

I know all schools are on a huge drive to improve attendance but common sense should still have a place.

Reception and year 1 are awful years for illness and they’re still so little. I think there should be a different margin for attendance in infants.

My sons school seems to have a mantra of ‘Calpol them up and send them in’. I think that’s ok as they get older but not when they’re so little.

If she says she is cold then you need to increase her layers even more - which she can then take off if she gets too hot.

There's no need for special indoor warm places if children are properly dressed for the weather. The forest nurseries near me still have the kids outdoors and its been -7C here this week with wind chill taking it down to -11C

As others have said if she is still feeling cold then she is probably coming down with something.

GintyMcGinty My children all went to a forest school nursery and they were outside even in the snow. Now their mantra is ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing’. My children would wear thermal base layers as in leggings and long sleeved top, 2 pairs of trousers and 2 tops plus waterproof trousers, jacket and 2 pairs of socks.

Sympathies with your daughter, I spent my childhood being cold through the winter (and a lot of the summer too). The amount of clothing I'd wear these days to be standing about in minus degrees is just not something that would be easy to take on and off for school break times and a lot wouldn't have been allowed, e.g. snow boots. And I always have the option to go inside/get in the car if I get too cold.

This is really poor of them and will affect girls more than boys which makes me annoyed.
Tell them she has chilblains and so needs to wear her winter boots. Hopefully they are grippy and as well as being warmer she won't be worried about hurting herself. I'm sure they can manage the children having a pair of boots under their peg.

I think the school are being v unreasonable about the shoes and that’s one thing definitely worth complaining about.

With the other PPs on the forest school nurseries that run in this temperature - it’s all about really good layers. Get her some snuggly layers this weekend. Uniqlo works for a cheap option, best are the merino wool ones that Scandinavians wear. Proper woollen socks etc.

Maybe bring her home at lunchtime today.

Complain to the school about their ridiculous rule about winter boots.

I didn't think primary schools could enforce uniform? Anyway, ours is just black leather (or pleather) shoes, trainer style or boots are fine, not restricted to office shoes. I don't agree with banning boots but I don't see how it would affect one sex more than the other, just don't buy flimsy shoes, surely?

@PrincessHoneysuckle a child coming home in that state stone cold that can't warm up is very bad for you. It isn't healthy. No need to be so rude using words like pathetic.

I live in north Scotland and our school put then out in all weather - on a hill facing the north sea!

The boys are still wearing shorts. Not mine but about half his class.

Can you get her an extra layer to put on between her coat and uniform? We can order school fleeces which she can either put on in the classroom or if it's warm there as an extra under her jacket.

Is the coat wind and waterproof? I like one with slightly long sleeves so I can ball my hands up inside it. Get her a proper outdoor coat. I got a lovely long length down style crag hopper coat for £12 in go outdoors.

She'd also be better with a hat than ear muffs.

Encourage her to stamp her feet, march on the spot or do star jumps if she won't run around.

If she starts off with lots of layers they can always be removed.
there really is no way you can ask for a special warm place for her that’s obsurd. Teaching staff are stretched as it is.
being out in the fresh air will do her the world of good- also being constantly warm and toasty is only going to make the future harder whenever she is the tiniest bit chilly.

everyone is cold at the moment but moving about more will help her so
encourage that’s and maybe just have a chat with the teacher about her popping some different footwear on even for break if you feel that would help.
I really wouldn’t take her out for lunch as that not only draws attention to her but it takes away time with her friends and just teaches her she’s special and can get what she wants

I also get annoyed that girls shoes are so flimsy and let water in at the sides

I managed to get a good full shoe style in start right which is much better than the ridiculous little strappy things available most places

Nobody in the UK is getting enough vitamin D in winter. Even if the sun is out it isn't strong enough, and we're all covered up so not enough skin to absorb it. Everyone in the UK should be supplementing.

Estrogen affects cold sensitivity. Something to do with vasodilatiob/constriction. Although I have no idea if that would affect a 4 year old!

I was in the Juniors during the winter of 1947. My feet used to get freezing at the bus stop each morning; I had read that people can lose their toes through frostbite, and I would spend the morning worrying about them and wiggling them to make sure they were still attached.

She sounds like she is just getting a cold. The play ground will have been gritted so there is no reason for her not to run around to warm up. Germs thrive in heated classrooms, fresh air is so much better for them. Kids don't need to be wrapped up in cotton wool just because it's a bit chilly out 🙄

I don't see how it would affect one sex more than the other, just don't buy flimsy shoes, surely?

Main reason is that often girls get sent to school in shoes like this: www.clarks.com/en-gb/lock-magic-k-/26176489-p

Boys generally get closed shoes, with chunky soles, often rubber.
It is somewhat better now but when my girls were little the only option in the girl's section was flimsy crap. Obviously buying from the boys's section is an option but has its own issues (some school aged children don't appreciate this approach).

Personally I don’t agree with everyone saying she had plenty on. I work between cold warehouses and warm offices and I wear long sleeve base layer, work top, hoodie, very thick high vis coat. Then fleece lined leggings and work trousers, and hiking socks (merino wool) along with hat and gaiter. That kept me warm yesterday when although it was -3, the wind made it feel like -9. If I took my hat off I was much much colder.

it may have felt much colder than -2 depending on conditions. I would try a hat rather than ear muffs, maybe some hiking/wool socks (go outdoors have some, I got a pack of 2 for my 2 year old which he wears a lot) or thick tights under her trousers?

it’s so hard to get the balance right when you’re between cold and warm as the temperature might be very warm inside and then she might be too hot from the extra layers she can’t easily remove 😩