[seymourct]

Originally Posted by Lintu

My 2.5 year old goes outside at preschool if it's 32 or above. If a child doesn't have appropriate clothes, they give them spares that they keep for that reason. None of this bothers me.

I was more troubled growing up in TX and having to run outdoors in gym class unless it was above 104. Lap running at 100 degrees is NOT fun.

Public school nurses, I'm told have spare pants for potty accidents in the preschool and kindergarten, not spare coats. Your assumption that there are spares around is just wrong.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by seymourct

Public school nurses, I'm told have spare pants for potty accidents in the preschool and kindergarten, not spare coats. Your assumption that there are spares around is just wrong.

My *assumption*? It's not an assumption -- I KNOW that my kid's preschool has spare coats. I've seen them.

I can't speak for anyone else's school, of course.

[seymourct]

Originally Posted by gtmo

If a child doesn't bring a coat to school, I blame the parents.

Ok, blame away. Doesn't change the fact that kids are still being sent out unprepared, and the school is not letting them back in for the duration of recess.

But NEVER mind all this thread drift - my Original Post was to other CT parents, asking if their schools are doing the same thing? sending kids outside unprepared? did they even know or think to ask?

[seymourct]

Originally Posted by Lintu

My *assumption*? It's not an assumption -- I KNOW that my kid's preschool has spare coats. I've seen them.

I can't speak for anyone else's school, of course.

Again your talking about a preschool. Is it private, or inside a publicly funded elementary school here in CT?

[Blazah1080]

the answer is it's FINE...

[NewHavensFinest]

When I was in middle school almost 20 years ago. We couldnt go outside when you were able to see your own breath, that was the test.

[elston]

Appropriately dressed is definitely the responsibility of the parents...not the school. If the child is not dressed appropriately...the school shouldnt keep them in...it should call the parent in for a conference and if that fails....perhaps call Child Protective Services. Winter weather is cold. When I was in Elementary School in RI we went out for recess...even if the temps were hovering around zero. We had to walk home in that weather anyway....so what difference is a 15 recess or even a half hour. Temps in the 30's aren't even an issue in my book.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

This is all good and well, but you have to remember, people in the coastal Northeast will feel temperatures different than someone in the upper Midwest, the same way a South Floridian will think NYC is freezing in April.

It's relative even locally. Having experience with both Westchester and Fairfield districts I find the former tend to be quicker to keep them in (especially the districts near the Bronx), like 30s they start questioning outdoor recess even if no wind (35-40 with no wind is actually pretty nice if you're dressed warm and running around if you ask me). CT I think it's 20s when they start keeping them in; though in both areas if there's snow on the ground they'll tend to keep them in both to avoid "slipping" injuries and to prevent kids from having snowball fights etc. (yes, that sounds like they're "not letting kids have fun" but the issue is kids throwing iceballs, etc. and accidentally hitting someone in the eye).

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Jeez, i think this thread needs a timeout.....

[gentlearts]

There is nothing wrong with kids going outside when it's 32-ish. As a parent, I know sometimes older kids won't wear certain sensible clothing because it's not cool, so their actions will result in consequences.
On the elementary school level, my kid's school had guidelines which were enforced, and as a parent, I appreciated. "Gee, I'd know you don't like changing out of your boots at school, but the rule says you need to wear them."
Even back in the olden days, when I walked back and forth to school twice a day in the frigid north (home for lunch), I remember getting in trouble at school for not wearing my snow pants home at lunchtime. I remember how I thought I looked like a doofus with snow pants under my dress.