What happened to wet play?

[Stephthegreat]

I remember a lot of wet playtimes at school.It was chucking it down outside so we stayed in our classroom at break time and lunch.

DS is on his third chest infection (yes he’s prone) but even when it’s bucketing down the children have to play outside.Hes come home with jumper and pants still damp.

Don’t schools have wet play anymore?ds school just say it’s good for the children to go outside

Sorry, Rockbird

My ds(10) definitely loves jumping in the puddles, jumping over puddles, going through the puddles with scooter, etc., Widow.
We don't have dogs now, but wellies are always must have for my ds. Going to the beach, woods, fields, rivers, etc. Maybe difference between living in the city and country side.

"7 year olds do not love jumping in puddles!" So why do I spend every wet playground duty trying to keep them out of the puddles (not just seven year olds either. Much older kids are drawn to puddles)

I've really seen it all now. Seven year olds are now considered too old by some posters to own a pair of wellington boots or lark around in the rain having a laugh with friends...?

I mean, I know this is the Mumsnet Primary Education board (= full of unintentionally hilarious posts by neurotic parents asking how to prep their preternaturally advanced toddlers for 3+ prep school examinations), but... seriously?

Outdoor time and unstructured play/running around are fantastic for kids of all ages and they should be doing more of it. Get parents to provide wellies (yes, they make them in all sizes including adult sizes last time I checked?) and raincoats and kick the kids outside unless the weather is extreme. Don't worry, TwonkyWidow--if your kids object to jumping in puddles on grounds of personal dignity, I'm sure the teachers will tolerate their standing in a corner of the wet playground reading Proust instead ;)

So why do I spend every wet playground duty trying to keep them out of the puddles (not just seven year olds either. Much older kids are drawn to puddles)

There's a dip in the surface of our playground which makes for quite an impressive lake when it really rains outside one set of classrooms. Last time it happened the foundation stage were found having had an impromptu D+T session making boats to sail on it!

Re wellies. I love jumping in puddles, so do my outdoorsy DC, but DS was a size 3foot when he was7, albeit very narrow feet. We just couldn’t find any wellies that fit him! Kids wellies seem to stop at size 2. Adult wellies largely start at about a 5. Even the size 3 wellies we found were so wide on him, they just slipped off. At 10/size 7 it’s easier, although he tends to need Ladies wellies, which we have to hunt down in plain dull colours.

So not owning wellies might not always be deliberate.

BikeRunSki , my ds's current wellies used to be mine. It's blue so he worn it once and kept it for himself.

Invest in a warm, properly waterproof- not showerproof - jacket, with a drawstring adjustable hood. Plus leather school shoes sprayed with waterproofing protector.
I think it must be miserable to go out in full on rain but if they have to do it, make sure he's got the right clothes.
My DCs primary kept them indoors when it was really wet but they did have cabin fever by the end of the day.

Play outside in all weather. Reception and nursery have wellies and waterproof all in ones. For older kids, a waterproof school coat is required (with hood), and they change in their pe kit if they get too wet. its only trousers anyway, so school trousers/tights off, track pants on.
In the uk, waterproof school
shoes are a good idea anyway

My dd's school keeps them in if it's raining. It seems miserable. The whole squeezed into the hall. I'd actually much prefer they stuck them in waterproofs and sent them out in the rain, unless it was an absolute downpour or lightening storm.

But for every parent who wants their child outside playing in the rain, there will be another who believes their child will dissolve in water like the witch in the Wizard of Oz. Schools cannot please every parent, whatever they do, but a little parental common sense would be great. If your child can't do up his zip, either ask the teacher if he/she will help your child or train him to do it by himself. I really don't get why the Op is complaining her child is sitting in wet clothing when there's such a simple and effective solution.

Did your child go to any form of childcare/nursery/pre school? Our pre school is hot on teaching them to do their coats up and it’s pretty important.
It rains a lot in the uk, I wouldn’t want mine stuck inside that often.

7 was when mine moved from wellies to walking boots/snow boots tbf but not because they'd grown too old for puddle jumping.