Outdoor Comedy

[madmom]

I have 2 words to add to this conversation...mitte n clips! I got mine at Kiddie Kobbler and I attach them to the shirt sleeves before I put on the jackets. The mittens fit really close to the end of the hand and are difficult to remove.
I had a similar experience when I had 3 little girls all about 3 yrs old last winter. They REALLY wanted to go outside and play so I spent 20 minutes getting them ready, sent them in the backyard and not 10 minutes later I got "we're cold" can we come in. Needless to say that was the last winter day I did that. Now I wait for spring

[Fun&care]

Last year the kids lost their boots so often it made me want to cry! I had two crawlers who could not keep their boots on. This year I mad it very clear that parents need to choose boots that fit properly and STAY ON or I might ask them to replace them. So far I find that snowsuits with the booties that clip on to snow pants are the best, but they have to wear warm wool socks under them too usually. I have my older son to take to the bus stop so I have to get them dressed twice per day.

[JennJubie]

Same here, I have to get my son to the bus stop as well. Thankfully I only had two plus my dd today. I got everyone ready when dck #1 pulled off his hat, got it put on again and put him in the stroller. Turn around to get dck #2 and he's pulled off his mittens and flung them. Put them back on, load him in the stroller, and as I'm buckling, he pulls them off again

[Crayola kiddies]

How old are these children .... I agree with Micky .... My kids would not attempt to take their boots off .... And for mittens I ask the parents to supply the ones that go half way up their arms and i put on before the jacket so really they can't get them off and if I have a young one that can get them off and doesn't listen when I say "leave your mittens on" then i tape them ; ) I hate winter and I'm not running around like an idiot putting all their stuff back on

[playfelt]

The first month of winter for sure catches us off guard because it is the first time for everyone and there is no way of knowing if they are a winter stripper or can't stand snow on their face or have no sense of balance once the bulky coat goes on. We all get the hang of it eventually and then it is Spring and a whole new set of issues. My favourite part of winter is when it is really cold and icy - no one expects me to take the kids out because it isn't safe so we can just stand at the window and watch the birds at the feeder.

[5 Little Monkeys]

You tape their mittens on? (no judgement, just asking!)

I am starting to think more like you playfelt! I used to feel like I needed to take the kids out every day because that is what we did when I worked in a centre. This will be my 3rd winter and I definitely don't feel like that anymore. Getting 4 kids of varying ages outside on any given day can be difficult but in the winter you can times that by 10 lol. I now only go outside on nice days and if we don't make it out due to our other activities I don't feel guilty anymore. I do a lot of structured play, sensory play and art daily so I feel that the kids get more out of our inside time anyways. I aim for at least once a day outside in the winter but I'm not gonna kill myself over it anymore. This group of parents is totally fine with that as they all hate winter too lol. My last group was an outside winter lover group.

I bought a small little tykes trampoline this week so they will burn a lot of energy on that!!

[playfelt]

We roll large exercise balls in the house - kids love it and I bounce them on them, they push the large fisherprice buses around and around but I have one of those houses that flows from room to room. As I was joking with a dad this morning as earlier arrivals were using the trucks I spent all summer saying ok guys put the trucks away and stop running around the house so we can go outside and stand at the sandbox for the next hour. And really that is exactly what was happening. I open the window in the playroom when I first get up and leave it open from 10-30 minutes depending on time of year to refresh the air in the main playroom and kitchen so figure that helps. No vitamin D benefit to outside play in the winter since only about a 3x6" piece of skin - ie the eyes shows. It can be such a miserable time for a 12-18 month old. Three and up love it and benefit from it and 2 year olds can go either way. I like that my parents don't really care too. I love it when they forget snowpants. My daughter who loves to play in the snow comes over two days at lunchtime and takes the older kids out.

[Crayola kiddies]

Yes I tape the mittens if its a child that constantly takes their mittens off because once the mitten is off inevitably they fall and now their bare hand is in the snow and them they are bawling then the snot starts .... So much easier to tape it on and then the kid actually has fun outside.

[Sassygirl]

I can SO relate to your post!
I have 4 toddlers plus my own son all aged 13-20 months old. Exact same issues with the mittens and the boots not staying on. Aye aye aye! I put them back on once then leave them. Most of them don't even notice or care they are too busy. I do tell the parents at pick up "xx didn't keep their mittens on so their hands are a little red" or same thing with boots thats why their socks are dirty.
I have asked over and over for snow pants or splash pants and I parent sends them. So frustrating when we all come back inside and I am changing everyones clothes!
Oh... and don't even get me started on after bundling the kiddos all up and going outside I smell a poop coming from one of them

[Dreamalittledream]

Haha! This whole post (& threads) made me smile!