Outside Play

Daylight savings time is now here, which means shorter days and longer nights. Aside from the season change, the weather is now cool and crisp. Gone are the flip-flops and open toed shoes. I remember wearing open toed heels in the dead of winter at 25, and I am the girl who has walked a few blocks in Chicago during the middle of winter following a pedicure in flip-flops. Then there was the winter in the city where I was walking through puddles....and yes my feet were cold by the time I got to the car. 

Oversize blankets, boots, and scarves. Leggings. Hot cocoa. Winter is coming. For early childhood educators, that means we need to rethink our classroom schedule to allow for time to get dressed in winter gear. This is why early childhood teachers dread winter: by the time we get everyone dressed to play outside, it's time to come inside. The first few times outside with hats, gloves, snowpants and boots is chaos, until a routine is established depending on age group. 

And again, this is why teachers dread winter. This is why we hope that it's too cold to play outside in the middle of January.

But this post is not about establishing a routine for a classroom, or getting children dressed for outside play. It is about a question that many parents have asked me over the years and a DHFS (state) regulation that I have seen parents complain about: 

How does one determine if the children are going outside? " 'I don't want her/him going outside, because it's too cold.' " (A parent recently complained about the latter, and it was 40* mid-morning. 40* late October-early November, which is different from 40* in winter.) 

Wisconsin DHFS regulations state that children are outside one hour per day. In most licensed programs and preschools, morning and afternoon outside play are part of the curriculum. To determine whether we are outside, the following factors apply:

Summer:

If the temperature is 90* or higher, or if the heat index is 90* or higher, we are not going outside. Let's say the thermometer reads 84* and it feels like 90*, we are inside.

Winter:

Two different DHFS rules apply here. They are as follows: 

Under two years of age: 20* and higher, including the windchill. If the air temperature is over 20* with the windchill, children in this age group can play outside. 20* with a 17* windchill and children will not be going outside.

Over two years of age: 0* and higher, including the windchill. When you are in the negative digits for both air and windchill temps, go into your bag of tricks to keep them occupied, because they will need to burn off energy!

These are DHFS regulations, and should a licensor visit, they will inquire about children being outside, plus they will check the temperature to see if it's warm enough. Should children not go outside for fresh air with appropriate clothing for the season and follow regulations, the center will get a write up by the state for violation of state law. Exceptions can be made for medical conditions with a doctor's note and for very young infants in family or group child care.

Fresh air is essential for human growth and development, and children, like adults need opportunities to run off energy. When shopping for winter clothing, a suggestion I have is to buy extra hats and gloves, one of which can be kept at school and home. This avoids the extra work of hauling more things to school. Make sure you label everything that belongs to your child and be specific in your description of your child's things should something get lost. 

Bundle them up and let them explore the sights and sounds of the seasons. Learning is everywhere.