Break time during beast from the east

[ChristineC320]

How do you feel about your children going outside several times a day during the school week for break during this cold?

My son is in reception and he has just missed a whole week of school recently due to the flu. He's recovered and back to school and to be honest the thought of him going outside to play in this cold is making me nervous.

Our school sent a letter home yesterday saying they were reducing outside play time but to make sure children have hats, coats and gloves.

Trouble is there is too much elf n safety these days n killjoys because if precious snowflake falls over or slips , the school is liable.

elf n safety - tick
killjoys - tick
precious snowflake - tick

It's brainless Daily Fail bingo round here, isn't it?

Totally agree with Itchy. In Scandinavia they’re out in the fresh air loads and think we’re a load of softies! Children love snow. We’ve just been told make sure hat/gloves/coat/spare trousers or waterproof trousers are taken in and boots and spare socks.
Agree that they’re more likely to share their germs by staying cooped up.
They’re children, we don’t get much snow. They should be enjoying it!

I think as long as theyre wrapped up then they are fine.

I work in a school and the children were taken out for about 25 mins before lunch ( was about 15mins for the younger ones), they were all made to wear wellies, coats, hats and gloves. We have a box of spares should children forget them....no child was let out today without all of the above.

We also had a play time in the afternoon, about half an hour.

We have some children who didn't want to go out, or had a cough or asthma so didn't want to go out.... so we had one room with activities for those children. But most wanted to go out for at least one of the play times.

If you are worried then speak to his teacher.

If you are worrying, you should talk to the teacher personally so she/he can make sure they are adequately clothed, or in worst case of coughing, they can be kept inside, since your dc is only in reception.
I have asked school to keep my ds in before hospital apps or recovering from illness in KS1, so he won't get ill.

My son goes outside. Give him a break from the extremely hot school tbh.

I agree with you OP. I would be also concerned of it was my son.
What about all those summer born children who are only 4 when they go to reception? They surely can't put their gloves on yet or some of them can't zip their jackets. I'm not sure if teachers do bother to wrap up all 30 kids properly before going out for a break.

My son also had flu but goes to preschool so he took few weeks of to recover. He was coughing badly. I wouldn't send him to his preschool (or school, if he was at school) if he was coughing in this weather because I know they take them out even when it rains badly.
Any chance you can keep him at home for another week or 2 until he recovers? Cough can last longer after flu and it's better to check with your GP in case he needs antibiotics.

Mumchatting, if you are worried about your child not dressing properly for weather, you can ask teacher to keep an extra close eye on them at school. My ds has weak immune system, so I always put extra layer of thermal under his uniform.
It does children good to let them play in the cold on rare occasion like this, than keeping child at home. (Obviously when they are not ill.)

Our schools are closed now but the last few days were really cold and I had a twice daily battle with some of the children in my class (11 and 12 yr olds) to put on their coats. A number of them actually came to school with no coats! So, while I was wrapped up in my coat, hat, scarf and gloves, some of my pupils were running around in their school uniform- but that was beyond my control I’m afraid.

It isn’t that cold - coat and hat will do if they run around! If they wear too much they just get sweaty. (I‘m from Switzerland though)

The only day we haven't been out this week was today because of the high winds blowing stuff around. It was too dangerous. The other days the kids wore there own coats plus school water proof overalls and coats. We went out for no longer than 30 minutes at a time though as it was so bitterly cold.