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> Leaving kids out in the cold is the issue. I live in Norway and beg to differ. We see temperatures down to -40 C in winter, and the kids love it. We don't ha

> Leaving kids out in the cold is the issue. I live in Norway and beg to differ. We see temperatures down to -40 C in winter, and the kids love it. We don't have "snow days", it's literally not a thing here. All you need is proper clothing, some seal fat for rubbing on your face, and cold weather experience among the adults (checking the kids faces for warning signs of frostbite, etc.). 95% of Norwegian babies and toddlers sleep outside in their prams (in sleeping bags) unless the temperature goes below -20 C. Then they come inside for sleeping, but will still be outside playing.

marvin 8y ago
I was baptised in -40 C weather. The temperature inside the church was just above freezing. My parents did take steps to ensure I was safely warm when outside, but there was no question of staying home.
kasey_junk 8y ago
“All you need is proper clothing, some seal fat for rubbing on your face” These are not things widely available to many Chicago children.
- justtopost 8y ago
  Vasoline works fine. Affordable and available to even the poorest families. Lets not poke at cultural differences when its not relevant.
  - kasey_junk 8y ago
    And what about coats & shoes? I know this comes as a shock to people but large swaths of your neighbor school children do not have access to those items.
macintux 8y ago
> 95% of Norwegian babies and toddlers sleep outside in their prams Can you elaborate? I don't understand this sentence at all.
- nkurz 8y ago
  Searching for the phrase on Google gives a good introduction: https://www.google.com/search?q=Norwegian+babies+and+toddlers+sleep+outside+in+their+prams https://www.google.com/search?q=Norwegian+babies+and+toddler... Summarizing, pram is short for perambulator, which Americans call strollers. In Nordic countries, it's believed to be healthy for infants to sleep in fresh cold air. To the horror of outsiders, babies and toddlers in prams are commonly left parked outside of establishments in freezing weather while the parent is shopping or dining inside.
  - macintux 8y ago
    Thanks. Definitely some culture shock there.

marvin 8y ago

I was baptised in -40 C weather. The temperature inside the church was just above freezing. My parents did take steps to ensure I was safely warm when outside, but there was no question of staying home.

kasey_junk 8y ago

“All you need is proper clothing, some seal fat for rubbing on your face” These are not things widely available to many Chicago children.

justtopost 8y ago
Vasoline works fine. Affordable and available to even the poorest families. Lets not poke at cultural differences when its not relevant.
- kasey_junk 8y ago
  And what about coats & shoes? I know this comes as a shock to people but large swaths of your neighbor school children do not have access to those items.

macintux 8y ago

> 95% of Norwegian babies and toddlers sleep outside in their prams Can you elaborate? I don't understand this sentence at all.

nkurz 8y ago
Searching for the phrase on Google gives a good introduction: https://www.google.com/search?q=Norwegian+babies+and+toddlers+sleep+outside+in+their+prams https://www.google.com/search?q=Norwegian+babies+and+toddler... Summarizing, pram is short for perambulator, which Americans call strollers. In Nordic countries, it's believed to be healthy for infants to sleep in fresh cold air. To the horror of outsiders, babies and toddlers in prams are commonly left parked outside of establishments in freezing weather while the parent is shopping or dining inside.
- macintux 8y ago
  Thanks. Definitely some culture shock there.