Baby, It Is Cold Outside
One of the best things about living in the South is having almost year-round access to the great outdoors. Playgrounds, parks and backyards are great places for little Johnny or Susie to run off steam and it’s important for children to get fresh air and exercise every day. Experts recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of moderately intense activity for all children over the age of 2 and that’s usually easier to accomplish outside. But, even in Alabama, there are days when it’s just too cold (or too wet) to play outside. So how do you know if it’s too cold and what do you do then?
How Cold is Too Cold?
A good general rule of thumb is that if the temperature is below freezing (taking wind chill into account) then the amount of time your child spends outside should be cut from 30 to 15 minutes. Keep in mind that you can do two 15-minute sessions in a day and that the temperature recommendations will vary depending on the amount of layers your child is wearing, their age and size, and how likely it is that those gloves and hats you put on them are going to stay on. For a more detailed and handy guide, download this chart from the Iowa Department of Public Health who I believe know a little something about cold weather.
It’s Too Cold, Now What?
You’ve established that today is not a good day to go outside and you don’t have any interest in playing another round of tag with your toddler or letting your 7 and 10-year olds destroy the home. No problem. There are plenty of places around town for your child to run, skip and jump around. Just check out our Indoor Play Guide for info!
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