Outside Time in Childcare: Is it Happening?
Every time I pick up my two kids from a full day in child care I struggle to ask those exciting but leading questions that'll get them to tell me what happened in school that day. "So did anything wildly exciting happen today? Any superheroes in class?" I know, the beginning of a long, long road.
Inevitably I wind up asking if they went outside to play. I honestly don't listen too closely to the answer, though often it is no - even when it's not raining cats and dogs. I tend to chalk this up to the fact that my 5-YO has no idea if he went outside that day and/or doesn't care to remember and tell me. I'm not worried because school policy includes daily outdoor play.
But after reading a recent article in the NYT about kids not playing outside while in childcare, I am wondering. Did he really not go outside? Is it because someone doesn't have warm enough clothes? The teachers don't feel like it? The park is a long walk? And if there's an indoor playground, need I worry anyway? Do your children play enough outside while in childcare? How do you know?
Thanks to CafeMama for the playground pic.
The saving grace of having my 3-year-old in full-time daycare is that they spend a LOT of time outside. That is part of the reason we chose this particular facility (Y's Choice). They go for many walks, rain or shine, and get lots of free play time outside, year-round. They're fortunate to have a covered play area so they can still be outside when it's dumping rain, but otherwise they just bundle the kids up in rain gear and go for it.
Posted by: Karen | June 04, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Our daughter spends time outside at least twice a day - typically they go for a nice walk in the morning and then playground time in the afternoon. The playground time usually is scheduled around the rain - but the walk seems to happen rain or shine. When I pick her up at 5 pm she is usually at the playground covered in sand.
Posted by: Lori | June 04, 2008 at 08:52 AM
At my daughter's old daycare, where they had a great outside playspace, the class often did not go outside, even on days that were perfectly nice. I asked about this several times (because I couldn't believe it when my daughter said they didn't go outside), and was told that "the kids didn't want to go outside". I had the impression that the teachers didn't want to be bothered, and I know from my own childcare days that it's easier to keep track of the kids when they're inside. I think it's worth badgering the daycare about it, so they know that parents are paying attention, and that it does matter to parents.
But the thing is... it's just another thing wrong with our crappy childcare non-system. If teachers don't want to go outside, and haven't gotten the training they should, and don't know why it's good for kids to play outside, it's pretty hard to expect that they will be motivated by their seriously low pay to actually go. So this is another reason to agitate for better childcare. Harass your childcare, definitely, and harass your representatives, too. And if you're interested in getting involved in environmental education promotion for all kids, check out the No Child Left Inside campaign at http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_sub_actioncenter_federal_NCLB
Posted by: Sara | June 04, 2008 at 09:03 AM
I use a downtown daycare, and we recently received correspondence about the current lack of outside play from the district manager. They were having a "risk assessment team" come in to determine if it was safe for the children to go on walks and play outdoors. I have a feeling this translates into "not wanting to get sued" (kid falling off a play structure, wandering away from the group, etc., etc). I wonder if this fear factors into the decision to let kids outside to play for many facilities?
My child is five months old, so it is not as much of an issue, although I would love it if they could take her out in the stroller on sunny days (I know I would if I was home with her!) or lay her out on a blanket in the park. If I had an older child I probably would not have chosen this daycare due to the lack of outdoor options. It is sad to hear about places with outdoor areas that go unused!
Posted by: Lilred | June 04, 2008 at 09:31 AM
One reason I like our day care is that they have very large outside play areas (one for younger kids, one for older kids) with many toys and play structures. There is a covered area with a plastic wall as well. The kids call this playing "under cover". They are outside at least two times a day. I think the only days they did not go outside was when it was really windy and rainy and cold. In the summer (if that will ever come), they have water play days outside, all school outside BBQs for lunch, and picnic snacks outside. Playing outside everyday is a must for our kid.
Posted by: Courtney | June 04, 2008 at 10:12 AM
My oldest in in a PPS kindergarten, and judging from the state of his clothes when I pick him up, he goes out at least once a day. He says most days they go out twice.
My three year old is in a twice weekly playgroup, and they seem to always be outside.
Having worked at a daycare once upon a time, I find it shocking that the teachers do not like bringing the kids outside more often. I remember it could be a hassle for the other teacher and I to get our 16 kids ready to go out. Once we were actually outside, though, it was great. The other teacher and I would bemoan the fact we could only bring the kids out twice a day. If the center allowed it, we would have stayed out all day. Any hassle getting the kids ready to go outside was totally worth it when the tiny little sweat-balls were so tired from running around they would not have the energy to argue about taking the afternoon nap!
Posted by: KMat | June 04, 2008 at 10:23 AM
We turned down one full-day daycare because they didn't take the infant/toddlers outside, generally; the women in that room said it was generally "too cold" or "too hot" or "raining" or "too much trouble to put their coats on." We found a half-day daycare that said "we take them outside every day, unless it's a complete downpour." Now, I pick her up in the middle of the day, and she's playing and running happily with her classmates outside. Yeah, she's often damp, but after a quick change, she's ready for a long nap!
As adults, we are really into the outdoors. It rains here, a lot, and we all just learn to deal with it because fresh air is calming, refreshing, and activity is important for our bodies, big or little!
Posted by: Kate | June 04, 2008 at 10:33 AM
I am the director of a Preschool, and the only time that we do not go outside is if it is over 90 degrees, or under 40 degrees. Even if just for a short break in the rain, I think it is essential to the children's wellbeing to get fresh air, and run. I sure would not want to be inside for 10 hours a day! Talk to your daycare if it is not hapening... withholding, food, outside time, rest etc.for a punishment is considered a child rights violation.
Posted by: Nwmama | June 04, 2008 at 10:46 AM
My 3-year-old daughter goes to Wren's Nest Preschool in SE Portland five days a week. The kids there are always going outside whenever there is an opportunity. The outdoor area has a great garden, small play structures, chickens, sandbox, chalk, etc, etc... And her teacher is constantly improving this area because she sees it as an important element of the kids' "schooling". It's important to find a facility where being outside is seen as integral to the program, not just an "extra". One of the reasons I live in the NW is because of the relatively temperate weather, so there's really no reason our little monkeys shouldn't be outdoors as much as possible.
Posted by: Jed | June 04, 2008 at 11:23 AM
My 10.5 y/old daughter has gone to Belmont Academy since we moved to Pdx, when she was 4.5 y/old. They do go outside--seems like even the little, little kids--unless the weather is really bad. If they don't go outside, they do get time in the gym (with different age groups going at different times, so school age kids are not stepping on toddlers).
Summers, school age kids (the "Explorers") go on daily field trips, even if it's just to a local park for planned activities or free play. So, yes, unless the weather is completely prohibitive, there is outside activity daily.
Posted by: Sheryl | June 04, 2008 at 11:49 AM
See the thing about this is when I did work in a few different centers I always had parents basically telling me they didn't want their children outside. They didn't want them in the rain especially even if it was barely sprinkling, not getting dirty and especially not being in the sun. We did however do it anyways because it's state law actually to have some type of outside time daily. I feel the outside should be an extension of the classroom and children should be able to explore it. If your child isn't going outside, ask why? Get a schedule of your child's day and maybe pop in or drive by to see if your child is going outside if it becomes an issue!
Posted by: Misty | June 04, 2008 at 03:07 PM
We left one childcare center for this reason, though I do not think it is the norm. Many, I'd say most, preschools and daycares have outdoor space.
What I have seen at our other schools is lots of parental involvement in designing, maintaining, building the outdoor spaces. So many urban daycares and preschools in our area have super creative uses of space - boats in the parking lots, sandboxes on the sidewalks, climbing structures under the awnings. You don't need a ton of space to create an outdoor area, just some creativity...
Posted by: Jess | June 04, 2008 at 04:09 PM
I work at a child care center on the east side. I've been there for well over two years and there isn't a day we haven't gone outside. We forewarn parents before we even let them enroll that we head out "rain, snow, or blistering heat"... we usually go two-three times a day per classroom but always at least once. I don't find it a hassle to get most classrooms ready for outside (even young ones)- especially compared to the benefits you and the kids reap.
Posted by: Melinda | June 05, 2008 at 07:29 PM
It is so important for children to go outside every day, even if it is just for a short while.
This book, Last Child in the Woods, has been part of a national movement (ha ha) to make sure children have adequate time outside. The author's website says it sparked the passage of "No Child Left Inside" initiatives in 27 states. Great articles to read and pass on to anyone who spends time with children:
http://richardlouv.com/articles
Posted by: fionnsnana | June 08, 2008 at 05:25 AM