[SouthernBelle3]

When it gets really hot in July and August, I don't see any kids playing in our neighborhood during the heat of the day. Who can blame them? They are not stupid. They are inside where there is a/c. Only those who have to work outside deal with it. The nicest part of the day in summer is between 7 and 9 PM. After that the mosquitoes will eat you alive.

[Minniemom]

I am glad that somebody asked this question.
That is something that I am concerned about with my son. He is 5 and whenever he plays outside on a really hot day on LI, his face gets really really red. He loves the winter and tells me all the time that he is a winter kid. I hope this is just a prefernce of his and not something that he will not do well in the heat there. I plan on keeping him inside in the really hot part of the days in summer just like I do in the winter months here when it's icey cold outside.

My daughter on the other hand - loves the heat and hates the cold. I guess I have to wait till the baby is old enough to let me know what he likes

[TriMT7]

Well, when I was a kid I was outside playing in the dead of summer!! We just got sweaty and drank more water than usual. As I got older we even played soccer in the middle of the day (which can be miserable, I admit) during the summer!!

Hundreds of millions of people live in climates as hot as or hotter than Florida and they go outside and don't keel over and die from the heat.

[VBmom]

Keep them hydrated and lathered up with sunscreen and bug spray and they will be fine. An especially great thing is OFF with sunscreen. Keeps off the bugs and the sun!

I think a lot of times kids will take the hint from you. Make sure you get outside yourself for a little fun and they will follow. If they hear you complaining about the heat, they will too.

I know when I was a kid, my mother would kick us out of the house and tell us not to return until lunch, we drank out of the garden hose, played in the dirt, ran around barefoot, swam in questionable water. We came home for lunch, washed, ate and were kicked out again until dinner. It's amazing...I survived!

[Minniemom]

I know the gras in FL is different that up north. We have fine, soft grass that is comfortable to walk around on in bare feet. The florida grass that I have seen is hard and scratchy. And aren't there fire ants to watch out for? Are my kids gonna be able to run around the grass without thier shoes on? Can I

[doggiebus]

The fire ants, usually build an ant pile, so you can see them. So just avoid them, and they will not bother you or your kids. There are a few different grasses in Florida, there is one that is really itchy, I can't think of the name, my dogs are funny when we walk through some of it, they do this little hop scotch thing. But the other grasses your kids will be fine to walk on.

The heat. I grew up in South Florida, and always told my parents I am a winter kid (my mom came from a 4 season city), they never believed me, they didn't believe me when I said, I don't like red meat (I was the kid that was forced to sit at the dinner table till I ate the red meat, I gave it to the dog eventually), but to this day I don't eat red meat and still consider my self a winter person. So I believe kids know some things about who they are or what they like or don't like at a young age. I used to get headaches in elementary school like everyday where you have P.E. everday, then when I went to middle school and didn't have P.E. my headaches got a lot less. I still get red in the face and hot when I am outside after awhile, an I have fainted a couple of times from the heat. Today I don't spend much time outdoors from May-October because it is to hot and humid for me. This year December and January were to hot to get outside this year for me. We also sold the boat because the sun is very damaging to skin, they say they do the most damage to your skin by the age of 18 (skin cancer runs in my family). Like the other poster said, in the summer the kids are not out in the neighborhood playing like they are this time of year. I guess they stay home inside or in their pools. However, you will find people out in the summer heat, some people don't mind the heat some how. So if your kid says he will be fine or he says he is a winter kid you might want to take that into consideration. Oh, do I wish I had grown up in a place with some snow, rather than just going for a week at a time to play in it.

You know people up north stay indoors during the winter, while people in Florida spend the summers indoors. So it seems kids around the country spend some part of the year indoors. It is really depends what you and your kids may enjoy more. IMO, since kids have the most time off during the summer, the milder summers in the north may be better for kids. That is why some parents in Florida send their kids to away camps during the summer in New England.

[Ben Around]

"You know people up north stay indoors during the winter, while people in Florida spend the summers indoors. So it seems kids around the country spend some part of the year indoors."

I don't agree. Many ADULTS up north stay indoors all winter, but kids don't. I spent my childhood in Western NY. I never missed a day playing outside winter or summer. After moving to Miami when I was a teenager, doing even moderately strenuous outdoor things (playing ball, riding a bike, even just walking a few blocks) during late spring, summer, or early fall was less than pleasant or easy due to the stifling humidity.

Where I live now, MN, winters can be really frigid, but lots of people embrace winter by ice fishing, snowmobiling, X-country skiing, etc. Kids are out playing on all but the most frigid days (e.g., wind chill below zero).

I think kids are adaptable to just about any climate, and if they want to be outdoors, they will be. Adults can be such wusses!

[Need_affordable_home]

I agree. I dont tolerate heat like I used to as a kid. Sure I was hot and sweaty but ive played outside in 90 degree heat in school recess and in parks. Now I cant and wont do any of that. Hope this post helps.

[Minniemom]

I really hope my son can adjust. Because this isn't a voluntary move on my part. It's a job transfer that we really can't say no to.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by Ben Around

"You know people up north stay indoors during the winter, while people in Florida spend the summers indoors. So it seems kids around the country spend some part of the year indoors."

I don't agree. Many ADULTS up north stay indoors all winter, but kids don't. I spent my childhood in Western NY. I never missed a day playing outside winter or summer. After moving to Miami when I was a teenager, doing even moderately strenuous outdoor things (playing ball, riding a bike, even just walking a few blocks) during late spring, summer, or early fall was less than pleasant or easy due to the stifling humidity.

Where I live now, MN, winters can be really frigid, but lots of people embrace winter by ice fishing, snowmobiling, X-country skiing, etc. Kids are out playing on all but the most frigid days (e.g., wind chill below zero).

I think kids are adaptable to just about any climate, and if they want to be outdoors, they will be. Adults can be such wusses!

I am not saying many people don't spend their time outdoors during the winter, I am just quoting what many northeners on these thread have said that they and their kids don't go outside during the winter. I love to ski and snowboard and love sitting out at the bottom of the mountain having lunch. I love the winter season, I am trying to move to Colorado, btw.

What I am trying to say to those people that say "their kids spend the winters indoors" is that kids in florida during the summer stay indoors too. So to think that your kids will be playing outside in the middle of the heat & humidity along with the mosquitos in the evening, is a joke. I agree not every single child stays indoors (during summer of winter) you will find kids that love the heat and humidity and kids that love the snow.