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outdoor time? (long)

fitmom82fitmom82 member
in Working Moms
Little back story: DD was with a SAHM her 1st 2 years.  I had DS and she was home with us for a few months.  I wanted her around kids so I sent them to a center by my job.  It was ok, but I wasn't really happy, so I moved them to a center by my house this year, I'm a teacher so we do everything Sept.-June.  I'm pretty happy with the center.  There have been a few little issues, but overall we've been happy.  I looked at this center when DD was 1 but decided to keep her with the SAHM because they didn't have an outdoor area.  They fixed up an area outside so I thought every thing was fine.  I know in the fall DS (1 1/2) class had been using the play area.  It seemed like DD (3 1/2) class had been doing more walks, the play area was apparently more for the babies.  This winter was horrible and everyone was suck inside, but the weather has been getting nicer and it doesn't seem like the kids are getting outside.

I asked the owner about DS's class.  She said they're putting turf down because the play area is too dirty so in another week or 2 it will be ready.  I'd prefer DS get dirty than be stuck inside all day, but 2 weeks isn't a big deal.  I asked DD's teacher today if they've been going outside, because according to DD they haven't.  The teacher said that she's in school many mornings, although she's almost done, and the other teacher is busy many morning with administrative stuff and unless there are 2 teachers they cannot go outside at all.

I do pick the kids up by 3:30 or 4, so we usually play in our yard or go to a park in the afternoon.  They're also home with me all summer.  We're going away next week, when we get back I plan to talk to the owner about the lack of outside time.  Would this be a big enough issue to you to change centers?  I hate to keep moving the kids around, but DD only has one more year of daycare before she's in public school.  One of the minor issues I have with this center was they put DD in the wrong class when we enrolled.  All but 3 of the kids, who were moved up last month, will be in kindergarden next year.  The teacher is great but since her kid is one of the ones in the class who will be leaving, and she is a certified teacher, I'm assuming she'll be gone too.  So since all of DD's friends and her best teacher will be gone, I'm not to upset about moving her.  The center I'm thinking of is brand new, so all kids will be in the same boat.  DS will be home with me this summer, so I'm expecting separation anxiety either way.  Would you switch centers over lack of outside time?
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Re: outdoor time? (long)

  • traveltheworldtraveltheworld member
    If that was the only issue, probably not. But it sounds like you aren't that happy with them overall.
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  • emberlee3emberlee3 member
    Outside time is required in my state. Only exception is for inclement weather. This would be a big deal to me. I would switch and report center, if appropriate .
    DS born 8/8/09 and DD born 6/12/12.
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  • dizzycooksdizzycooks member
    Not a deal breaker, but is be making up for it when the kids are hone with me. In big on outside time, but I always take dd for a walk after work or to the park or both any day the weather is tolerable.
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  • alisonc87alisonc87 member
    In my state it is a licensing requirement that all children go outside for a minimum of 20 minutes twice a day (weather permitting). In the childcare I work at we follow the kids lead during the winter because we have long cold winters. We may not get out for a full 30 minutes, but we get outside for at least a little while, we just keep a close eye on them to make sure they are staying warm enough and dry. Often it takes longer to get them geared up than we are outside and we would be okay to keep them inside on "borderline cold weather", but sometimes they just need 10 or so minutes of fresh air.
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  • RondackHikerRondackHiker member
    bearsbearsbears said:

    theresat858 said:

    I wish our center had less outside time.  Maybe I'm the only one who worries about the effect of constant sun exposure on little skin.

    Yes, you're the only one who worries... Or daycares put hats and sunscreen on the kids and have tons of shaded areas.

    This is what my daycare does. They're outside almost all day long in nice weather... And we do the same on weekends. We'd get so bored if we stayed indoors.


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  • laurakaz13laurakaz13 member

    I would not be okay with that.  DD goes outside at least an hour a day.  I slather her with sunscreen everyday and her playground has these structures built to cover them with shade. 

    Kids love to be outside and it's good for them.  I would look around, personally. 

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  • mlee116mlee116 member
    edited April 2014
    I don't know if it'd be a deal breaker for me, but it'd definitely be a concern.  They go out at least once a day (weather permitting) at DS's DC, but when it's nice, they go out twice.  Then we usually go out to play or for a walk when we get home!  DS loves to play outside and we try to be an active family so I'm happy with it. I'd rather him go out then be cooped up all day.

    I send a hat with him everyday, they put sunscreen on him and make sure they have plenty to drink so I don't see what the problem is.  

    ETA: I'm editing to say that I do think it'd be a deal breaker the more I think about it.  DS would go crazy if he couldn't go out.
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  • jf198400jf198400 member
    Deal breaker. My kids would go crazy if they didn't get outside everyday.
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  • alli2672alli2672 member
    It would be a deal breaker for me. The only reason I would continue would be if my child had a good relationship with the teacher or other kids, and I didn't want to screw that up.  However, since that teacher and most of the other kids aren't coming back anyway, then I would find somewhere new.  

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  • scrappingcatscrappingcat member
    I pulled DS from an in-home because they almost never went outside.  This was not the only reason but was high on the list.  Kids need fresh air and space to run!
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