When is it too cold to take children out?

[cgcw]

I'm curious as to what most parents think is extreme cold weather and would not want their children out -- even for a couple of minutes.

I run a home daycare out of my home. Every day, we travel as a group to take 1 or 2 kids to preschool. Today it's 1 degree out with a wind chill of -15. Tomorrow they are predicting that it's going to be even colder.

When the first family arrived, whose daughter goes to preschool on Friday's, I commented to the Mom that we are probably going to stay home and not go to preschool because of the cold. Her response was a "oh really", as in she wasn't sure she agreed with that. The other Mom (of the little boy who goes today) was absolutely in agreement that it's best to stay inside today.

My concern is that we would have van problems and then what?? There is no way I could keep 6 kids bundled up warm in a van with no heat while we waited for help.

So, I'm wondering, what do other parents think??

 

[jacksonsmom]

We have had a cold front for the past few days. Yesterday our "high" was -11F, windchill around -30 all day. I still took my child to preschool. I just bundled him up & off we went.

Now, I would not want him to be outside playing or for a long time in that weather but I don't see the problem with running from the car to the building in this weather.

It is winter after all & we live in a Northern state so I just go with the flow

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

I have never NOT taken my kids out because of the weather. My SIL totally protected her children from all kinds of weather...cold, rain, etc. I jsut bundled mine up tighter and off we went. Now hers are sick all the time and mine are digustingly healthy.

 

[CamColt]

Ill start by saying I hate the snow and cold, and I am one of those always cold people. I leave playing in the snow with the kids up to DH, because I want no part of that.
With that said, in your case if the roads were bad I wouldnt chance going out with all the kids, but for just cold, I would do it. Id just warm the car up good before we left.

 

[peg2001]

I think it makes a huge difference if you are talking about taking your OWN children out or like in your situation when you are caring for other children. I agree with the OP, better to stay home with the other children she is caring for.

Peggy

 

[Kermit]

If it were just my kids, I'd take them out as long as they weren't obviously uncomfortable and complaining. With other people's children, I'd probably poll all of the other parents and see what they think. As long as you have a cell phone, I'd think that being out in your car would be safe. Just have some blankets in there in case you do break down. If the roads are fine, it shouldn't take long for help to arrive.

 

[eeyoreforever]

I have to go the other way with my opinion. If it were only my child/children, I would probably go. But, since it is 6 other children, I don't think missing a couple of days of preschool is going to hurt anyone. When you get to the preschool, do you have to take all the children in to drop off the child or do they come to the car and get the child? That would also be a deciding factor. Like you said, if something were to happen to your van-which probably wont happen-I wouldn't want to be responsible for trying to keep 6 children warm. Just my opinion.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by peg2001
I think it makes a huge difference if you are talking about taking your OWN children out or like in the OP's situation when she is caring for other children. I agree with the OP, better to stay home with the other children she is caring for.

Peggy

Edited to correct sloppy grammar.