At what temperature do your schools keep the kids inside? At my DD's school they insist they go out if the temp and wind chill combined are over 10 degrees. I HATE this; I think it's way too cold at that temp. Most other schools around here have at least a 25 degree limit, some have 35 degrees. This is twice a day recess, too. So after the first recess their mittens and snowsuits are soaked and two hours later they are expected to put all that on again (the stuff is NEVER dry) and go freeze outside again. And sending in double of everything is not an option given the whopping two pronged hook they are assigned in the hallway for their coat, snowpants, backpack, gym bag of gym clothes, lunchbox, boots, hat, scarf, and mittens.

Yes, I'm rather annoyed...sigh....

By Marg on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 11:31 am:

I can see why That is terrible.

Dks go to a small private school. If it's over 25 they have a choice to go out or stay in. They won't go out if it's under that.

By Vicki on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 11:39 am:

Our limit is 20. They won't go out if temp or wind chill is under 20. We only have recess once a day.

By Kate on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 11:42 am:

This is a private school, too. Last year I voiced my concern and asked the principal's secretary and my DD's teacher how I should handle it. They both told me *I* was the parent and could make that decision. All I had to do, I was told, was write a note each morning I felt it was too cold, excusing her from outdoor recess. Suddenly this year it's no longer acceptable and the principal called me saying we're supposed to follow the rules. I said I was aware of the rules but did not agree with this particular one and had already, to my knowledge, taken the steps necessary to exempt her from recess on bitter cold days. I said I felt strongly enough about this to drive in each recess and put my daughter in my car for the duration. I KNOW how stupid that sounds, but I saw no other solution. They won't allow her to stay inside without a doctor's note. So now twice a day I have to check the weather station 15 minutes before each recess time and if it's under ten degrees I can stay home because the whole school will remain inside, but if it's over ten, yet still too cold in my opinion, I have to drive in and hang out in the car with her. It's almost laughable.

By Tonya on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 11:48 am:

Ours is 25 and dry. And teachers descreation. And we go to public school. Timmy is in Kindergarten and his teacher keeps them in for under 30 and if it looks cold out she lets them stay in.

I would go to the school board with somethign like this that is for sure the way to make them sick.

By Debbie on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 11:55 am:

Well, my ds is in 1/2 day kindergarten and they don't have recess because of the short day. But for the older grades it has to be 20 and they only go out once a day. Also, if they do not have pants, boots, etc they are not allowed out. I am not sure what they do with the kids that don't have the right clothes.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 12:06 pm:

I live in WI. The wind chill has to be below zero before we stay inside! LOL! Actually, on the playground where the younger kids play, we are well-protected from cold west winds by a big stand of pine trees. With the wind gone, it usually isn't too bad over there. The kids in Sheboygan go out three times a day, around 10am, lunchtime, and then around 2pm again. Most of the kids want to go out and the teachers for sure like them to go outside.

Last week, the wind chill was -15 to -20, so we stayed in. The next day, the wind chill was zero and the temp was in the teens, so we went out.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 12:07 pm:

You stay in when it's 25?? They would laugh at you in WI!

By Sue3 on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 12:44 pm:

Yes, same as Dawn,The windchill has to be below 0
then they stay inside.
I am from Michigan.It was 8 degrees yesterday and the kids all went outside.
They go to a public school.
Where are you from Kate?
I know what your saying though about
the snow pants ect.
I hate that also. By the time they get home their stuff is soaked!
I figure that they must have had some
fun rolling in the snow. lol

By Kate on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 01:12 pm:

I'm in upstate NY.

Anyone familiar with weatherbug.com? I was using weather.com but the school uses weatherbug. With weatherbug I can't find the wind chill number, or the wind chill/temp combo. Anyone know the secret??

By Mommyathome on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 01:23 pm:

I don't know that our schools have a limit for this. Never thought about it. All last week they stayed inside for recess (went to the gym). But this week DD said they are back out to recess. There is still several inches of snow on the ground, but DD said the playground equipment was dry.
We just make sure DD is wearing a good pair of shoes and socks and takes a coat with her just in case.
So far I haven't had any complaints on the days they go out.

By Melissa on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 01:38 pm:

Personally I think you are going a little overboard in the driving to the school thing. How long are they out? As long as she is appropriately dressed, getting fresh air is good for kids. I live in Maine so I know about cold!
My dd skied last week, it was in my opinion COLD and sleeting but she said she was fine so she went to her ski class and had a great time. My mom was the type to write a note to request inside recess or a note to excuse me from gym and I can tell you it did me no favors in life.
I worry I might be too much the other way with my dd, but so far all seems well. You have to do what you think is best but unless she has some health problems, I can tell you stuff like that made my life harder once I was a young adult. JMHO

By Colette on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 01:51 pm:

I use weatherbug and the windchill is right on the current conditions page.

You would be surprised at the amount of kids that show up to school without proper winter gear on. We call it the "high 5" if you have mittens/gloves, coat, ski pants, hat, and boots you can play in the snow. Otherwise you stay on the pavement. The principal usually decides if it's to cold for outdoor recess.

It's made it to 0 degrees now at 2p. Thursday and Friday are supposed to be colder than this morning....

By Annie2871 on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 02:31 pm:

Our kids stay in if it's too cold, but I don't know if there is a set temp that they won't go out in. It is up to the teacher on duty as to whether they go out or not. If they don't, usually the duty teacher will take all the kids in her room and the kids will watch a short cartoon.

I have to agree with Melissa, I think going to the school during recess is a little much. What does your dd say? Is she uncomfortable being outside when it's cold? Is she embarrassed by her mom making her sit in the car when all of her friends are running and playing and having fun? I think if your dd is fine and she doesn't have any health problems requiring her not to be outside, then I say let her play and have fun!

By Babysitbarb on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 02:39 pm:

If I remeber right ours is 20 and above which I still think is to cold. 32 is freezing point so why would they allow kids to go out when it's below that has always been one of my pet peeves. My daughter doesn't go out much because she has a teacher this year who gives them the choice. If they have home work then tehy are to work on this.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 02:40 pm:

The kids at the school where I work LOVE being outside. When it's in the 30's and they are hot from running around, they are already asking if they can have their jackets off! LOL!

Today, the first graders were really wound up. I couldn't wait to get them outside.

It snowed this morning and now the wind is REALLY kicking up! I just shoveled my sidewalk, but I don't think it's going to stay clean too long.

By Fraggle on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 03:38 pm:

I used to work at a school that was grades 3-5 and the general rule was single digits they stayed inside. Oh and I'm in Southern Maine. I used to hate going outside for recess duty but I hated staying inside more because we didn't have any general purpose area to send the kids to-so they had to stay in their classrooms and the on duty teachers would just roam the halls checking on each classroom. After a couple of days of this the kids would be climbing the walls.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 04:24 pm:

I'm not sure if my DK's school has a defined limit, but so far they've kept the kids inside when I thought it was appropriate. When I was teaching my school's limit was 20 degrees. Anything below was indoor recess, which meant most of the teachers lost their lunch break because they had to supervise their students in their classrooms.

To give you a different perspective, as a former teacher myself, it was very difficult when a parent requested their child to stay in when all other students were going out. Most often I obliged but that meant I had to give up my break time to supervise that child. At times it simply wasn't possible because I had recess or lunch duty or meetings scheduled during the recess period.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 05:52 pm:

I have been a lunch lady for 5 years now. We supervise the kids in the lunchroom and out on the playground for recess. If they have indoor recess because of rain or cold, we supervise them in their classrooms. I watch 2 first grade classrooms for indoor recess and my kids are really good. They find stuff to do, keep busy and out of trouble. Too many days of indoor recess and we are all climbing the walls, though.

We also don't have the staff to watch a few kids inside while the rest are outside. They can watch a few kids in the office. Sometimes kids don't go outside because they are sick or were recently sick. Their parents can send a note.

Back in December, when they were all dressed up for their holiday program, some teachers stayed in the rooms, so girls in dresses could stay inside if they wanted too. It was cold that day and a lot of kids really weren't dressed to go outside, especially the girls. A few other rooms had parents who would watch the kids inside.

By Andyjoy on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 12:02 am:

My husband is cracking up. He grew up in Alaska and they went out as long as it was above -20! I'm with you though--that's a bit cold for me!

By Lauram on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 09:40 am:

I want to say our is 27. (Public School in CT)

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 12:26 pm:

Temp is 11, windchill is 1. Wind is low, about 6 mph. I think we will be going out today. I just walked home from the clinic where I work and I wasn't really that cold, even in my thin uniform pants.