Weather Conditions

Today looking out at the weather is beautiful, however hazardous to drive in... please be very careful!!

Our office will be closing today at 3 pm due storms headed our way.

Hazardous weather conditions may cause some trainings or mentor visits to be canceled on short notice. This policy provides some guidelines to follow for what to do in case of bad weather or hazardous road conditions.

• If the local school system where the training/visit is canceled, the training/visit will also be canceled.
• If there are hazardous driving conditions as stated by the Indiana State Police, such as ice, the training/visit will be canceled. Due to travel distance of our trainers/mentors, roads may or may not be hazardous at the destination of the training/visit or starting point of the trainer/mentor. Travel routes will be closely monitored by the trainer/mentor team and if hazardous conditions are present, the training/visit will be canceled.
• Trainers/mentors will try to contact all participants via phone using the number that is provided when you registered. Please provide Child Care Answers with the best number to contact you. Trainers/mentors will print off the most recent registration information to take with them in case calls need to be made.
• Trainers/mentors will contact the Education Coordinator for cancellation and the Education Coordinator will contact the location of the training with cancellation information.
  Child Care Answers will make the best effort to contact local TV and/or radio stations for cancellation of trainings.
  If you have a question as to if a training or visit is still scheduled or has been canceled, contact the Child Care Answers office at 800-272-2937.

Guidelines for outside play in inclement weather - BRRRRR!

Hi everyone! You know that as I am writing this blog entry it is all of 6°F the wind is blowing from the NW at 9-10 MPH and the wind chill is -7°. All this information just by going to weather.com and typing in my zip code. For parents and providers it is important to know when the conditions are safe for little ones to be outside playing.

Here is what the state guidlines say:

"■ 470 IAC 3-1.1-38 Activities for healthy development
Authority: IC 12-13-5-3
Affected: IC 12-17.2
■ (b) Opportunity shall be provided for children to play outdoors daily except when:
(1) the severity of the weather poses a safety or health hazard; or
(2) when there is a health related reason documented by a parent, legal guardian, or
physician for a child to remain indoors.
♦ Intent:
To meet the developmental needs of children for vigorous outdoor play. (Caring
for Our Children) Children shall play outdoors daily when weather and air quality
conditions do not pose a significant health risk. Outdoor play for infants may
include riding in a carriage or stroller; however, infants shall be offered
opportunities for gross motor play outdoors, as well.
Weather that poses a significant health risk shall include wind chill at or below 25
degrees F and heat index as identified by the National Weather Service.
Air quality conditions that pose a significant health risk shall be identified by
announcements from local health authorities or through ozone (smog) alerts.
Such air quality conditions shall require that children remain indoors where air
conditioners ventilate indoor air to the outdoors. Children with respiratory health
problems such as asthma shall not play outdoors when local health authorities
announce that the air quality is approaching unhealthy levels.
○ Assessment Method:
Observe to see if children play outside. Interview the caregiver to determine
when and how often children are outside for play. Review the home’s daily
schedule for outside play."

Or to put it another way - today is TOO COLD for children to playing outside. The Iowa Dept. of Public Health has a great chart on their webiste to help determine if conditions outside are right for play.

If you have any questions please feel free to call us and we will get you the answers you need.