Open Discussion Forum

What are your schools parameters for water play during the colder winter months? Do you change clothes once they are wet? How long do you leave children in wet clothes? Are the long sleeved aprons helpful to keep children dry? How do you approach concerns that cold weather makes sick? I greatly appreciate your feedback!

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Andrea Karjack
Capitola CA
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We have requested that children have a snowsuit, mittens, hat, and boots  at school everyday. We let the parents know we go outside at least twice a day (morning and afternoon) and that the children need to be appropriately dressed for such. The parents have been great about it and there haven't been any concerns about getting sick if cold, but if there were, I'd find an article to share to educate them about that myth.

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Janelle Schmidt
Director of Early Learning and Extended Day Programs
Friends School of Baltimore - Little Friends
Baltimore MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2018 09:30 AM
From: Andrea Karjack
Subject: cold weather water play

What are your schools parameters for water play during the colder winter months? Do you change clothes once they are wet? How long do you leave children in wet clothes? Are the long sleeved aprons helpful to keep children dry? How do you approach concerns that cold weather makes sick? I greatly appreciate your feedback!

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Andrea Karjack
Capitola CA
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Hi Andrea,
I see that you are also in California where cold does not mean snow.  I give children access to water year round.  The only days I don't are when it is below freezing outside, which MAYBE happens one or two days a year around here.  I do change children's clothes when they are wet, but only when I and they agree that they are completely done with water play for the day as I don't want to go through multiple changes in a day.  (I should also mention we are a half-day program, so no one is wet ALL day.). I don't use long sleeved aprons, but I do see that regardless of the wet weather clothing children use, they often still get water inside their sleeves or boots.  I have had some recent concerns from a parent about the cold making the children sick.  I definitely do not agree that being cold makes children sick, (and I'm sure those in places that actually get cold might laugh at the idea that 50 degrees is cold).  I did not approach that angle when responding to this parent, but did share these resources on supporting water play year round:

https://kidscraftroom.com/benefits-water-play/
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/importance-sand-and-water-play

I'm interested to see what others contribute to this thread, especially those in non-snowy areas and if anyone has found research/articles that discuss how being cold does not make children sick.
All the Best,
Sherrie Rose

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Sherrie Rose Mayle
Director/Teacher
Campbell Parents' Participation Preschool
Campbell, CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2018 09:30 AM
From: Andrea Karjack
Subject: cold weather water play

What are your schools parameters for water play during the colder winter months? Do you change clothes once they are wet? How long do you leave children in wet clothes? Are the long sleeved aprons helpful to keep children dry? How do you approach concerns that cold weather makes sick? I greatly appreciate your feedback!

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Andrea Karjack
Capitola CA
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Hi,
We have water play year round.  When it freezes the children find all kinds of fun ice sculptures and we have great discussions and studies throughout the year.  Here is a great article about the benefits of outdoor play and the myth behind the correlation of illnesses and being outside.

https://www.med.upenn.edu/antibiotics/newsletters/2017_5.1_January.pdf.

Happy Holidays
Emily

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Emily Brown
Hailey Elementary Preschool
Hailey ID
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-18-2018 10:10 AM
From: Sherrie Mayle
Subject: cold weather water play

Hi Andrea,
I see that you are also in California where cold does not mean snow.  I give children access to water year round.  The only days I don't are when it is below freezing outside, which MAYBE happens one or two days a year around here.  I do change children's clothes when they are wet, but only when I and they agree that they are completely done with water play for the day as I don't want to go through multiple changes in a day.  (I should also mention we are a half-day program, so no one is wet ALL day.). I don't use long sleeved aprons, but I do see that regardless of the wet weather clothing children use, they often still get water inside their sleeves or boots.  I have had some recent concerns from a parent about the cold making the children sick.  I definitely do not agree that being cold makes children sick, (and I'm sure those in places that actually get cold might laugh at the idea that 50 degrees is cold).  I did not approach that angle when responding to this parent, but did share these resources on supporting water play year round:

https://kidscraftroom.com/benefits-water-play/
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/importance-sand-and-water-play

I'm interested to see what others contribute to this thread, especially those in non-snowy areas and if anyone has found research/articles that discuss how being cold does not make children sick.
All the Best,
Sherrie Rose

------------------------------
Sherrie Rose Mayle
Director/Teacher
Campbell Parents' Participation Preschool
Campbell, CA

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2018 09:30 AM
From: Andrea Karjack
Subject: cold weather water play

What are your schools parameters for water play during the colder winter months? Do you change clothes once they are wet? How long do you leave children in wet clothes? Are the long sleeved aprons helpful to keep children dry? How do you approach concerns that cold weather makes sick? I greatly appreciate your feedback!

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Andrea Karjack
Capitola CA
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HI,

I am also in CA and just did a training/ info session with all my staff.
There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

We provide outside play no matter the temp/ weather, even if its raining. Here in southern CA it never gets to cold not to go outside.
When it rains we do shorten our outside time.
We try to ensure all students have water appropriate clothing, and at least 1 pair of extra clothes and shoes in their cubby.
We always change the children into dry clothes/ shoes as soon as we get inside.

We found an article where it explain that if someone has sniffles its actually better for them to be outside vs. inside.
If parents state their child can not go outside because it is to cold, we have extra clothing.
If parents state their child cannot go outside because they are not feeling well, they should not be at the school.
Our handbook states the following:
- children have to be able to participate in all activities
- children have to wear weather appropriate clothing / especially in colder or rainy weather
- children have to have at least 2 pairs of extra clothing and extra pair of shoes.

Hope this helps



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Yvette Jackson
FAA Merry Go Around
San Diego CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2018 09:30 AM
From: Andrea Karjack
Subject: cold weather water play

What are your schools parameters for water play during the colder winter months? Do you change clothes once they are wet? How long do you leave children in wet clothes? Are the long sleeved aprons helpful to keep children dry? How do you approach concerns that cold weather makes sick? I greatly appreciate your feedback!

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Andrea Karjack
Capitola CA
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