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.

@BertieBotts those shoes look great, probably a bit late for this winter but it's exactly the kind of thing that would do for DS, we live by the coast and he loves a winter beach walk , at the moment we do wellies a size too big and thermal socks covered with fluffy ones they look much more practical

Barring extenuating circumstances, no I don’t think children should have access to a warm area at break time.

Being active in fresh air is really important. It’s similar weather here and I’ve just got back from an hour in the park with my 3 year old. He wore layers and ran around so wasn’t cold. If she doesn’t like wearing leggings under her trousers, have you tried some fleece lined waterproof trousers? She could slip these on over her clothes before going outside? I’d be encouraging her to move more when playing out too.

The child is choosing to stand there. 99% of the other children will be running about and having fun. If Op's child chooses to just stand there that's nobody's fault. Children need regular play, fresh air and exercise rather than sitting in a class all day. There is no such thing as bad weather anyway just bad clothing for the weather.

It's quite precious to suggest a school create a warm area just for your daughter. Who's going to staff that for one child? I would understand if she has medical needs causing the cold. Guaranteed all the other children, cold weather or mild will be racing out of that door at playtime. I think most kids don't feel the cold like adults anyway so they would be staffing an area for one child which would require 2 staff.

Being outside is really good for children (and everyone) and won't have made her sick. It's actually mandated here (2 hours a day at least in daycares). Our temps get down to -20 in winter. But the kids are all properly dressed with snow suits and insulated boots. The school shoe policy sounds stupid and I would be tempted to contest or come up with a medical reason for boots. Can you pick up a second hand pair of insulated snow pants? They would make a massive difference and be relatively easy to remove indoors.

Even at forest school they will have a sheltered cabin or teepee (my son's is heated). Also he goes in basically ski wear at this time of year and warm neoprene and fleece lined wellies.

Go to decathlon for cheap ski wear and upgrade some of her clothes.

Mittens on a string through her coat sleeves so they are always with her. Look for ones with a water resistant outer and fleecy inner like ski mittens for warmth.

A hat with ear flaps, again ideally double layer and water resistant.

A fleece snood/buff type scarf

An extra jacket or gilet that fits over or under her normal coat.

A second pair of socks, and a thermal insole in her shoes. If she wears a skirt get woolly tights and put a pair of ankle socks over the top, two pairs of socks if she wears trousers.

Thermal tights and a proper hat, not earmuffs.

I always had proper sturdy shoes as a child. I had no clue if they were 'girls' or 'boys' shoes.

Mine is one a vest, a merino thermal vest, school shirt, school dress, school jumper and extra-warm windproof winter coat (Didriksons, brilliant!!), socks, amazing thick thermal tights, good wool hat. Lined winter boots.
If your child gets warm she can ask for help removing an item of clothing in class - better to have all the layers available than be cold. And far better to have some outside exercise than not.
My child is in a wheelchair a lot of the time and is still going out each day at school, so cannot be as physical then, I wouldn’t dream of speaking to school like you’re thinking.

Mine is also in a wheelchair too so exactly the same with layers but I’d much proffer them being out getting fresh air and being with mates. Not being treated in any special way and being in their own inside

The No Boots rule is ridiculous in this weather. Cold strikes up and sensible footwear should be the priority.

It's really tricky as some kids feel the cold and others don't.

My friends DD is still going to school in shorts ands it's freezing here.

Being cold won't make her ill though it's just not pleasant. In fact staying inside in the warm is more likely to make her unwell as the germs can freely circulate

Please can people stop suggesting she is just standing there when I have said several times that she doesn't do this, she just doesn't run around at full pelt. There is a button to read OP updates if you don't want to RTFT.

Thank you for all the sensible suggestions - I will speak to the school about the no boots policy because it isn't reasonable in this cold weather. Boys are also allowed to wear closed shoes but girls are not.
Hand warmers are a good idea.
The hat, she always has one, 99% of the time she whips it off which is why she also has ear muffs (I'd rather she wore something).
The ski pants thing is unlikely to be accepted by the school nor will they have space for storage of those kind of layers, but I may just start sending her in with her PE trousers over her normal ones.

I had the same issue with a child who felt the cold but didn't like wearing a hat. It does make a big difference so I kept saying on repeat that if he was cold he needed to wear the hat - he did do it in the end and it helped.

That's a ridiculous policy on the shoes - I would be kicking up a fuss about girls not being allowed to wear sensible shoes in this weather

That's a ridiculous policy on the shoes - I would be kicking up a fuss about girls not being allowed to wear sensible shoes in this weather

It is veey annoying, there's a lot more leniency for boys.
I have also noticed certain children seem to wear tracksuits and similar every day but if certain others even wear incorrectly coloured socks we are pulled up.

Cold doesn't make you cold??? What does that mean? Of course the cold makes you cold.

Have you never been to an actual playground. Loads of kids running around. Loads of kids sitting on benches or around playing quietly. Not all 4 year olds run like an automaton. Some hate playing tag and the like and prefer to engage in imaginative play which is not running around.

I assumed it was meant to say 'cold doesn't make you [catch a] cold'.

Not all 4 year olds run like an automaton. Some hate playing tag and the like and prefer to engage in imaginative play which is not running around.

This. DD doesn't really enjoy tag and "plays pretend" with her friends. Last week they had a princess wedding. Also a lot of hide and seek.

“Cold doesn't make you cold”

This may be the stupidest thing I’ve read in a while 🧐

OP I’m so sorry for your poor daughter. Press the school for a solution.

I feel the same as you

At the very least, girls should be permitted to wear exactly the same shoes as the boys.