Recess Temperatures

[uforgot]

Our school recently informed the elementary teachers that students are not allowed outside for recess when it is below 40 degrees. I'm trying to find some info or statistics as to safe temperatures, or even recommendations as to specific temps and windchills. As a high school teacher who teaches these elementary kids in the summer, I'm trying to imagine a day with them cooped up inside like this. No wonder my friends in the elementary school are complaining. These kids need to run, even if only for 10 minutes!

I have found policies from different schools. One school in Texas has a cutoff of 55, and then some in the north, such as in Minnesota lets them out at 0.

Our superintendent likes cold hard facts, statistics and charts, and instead of grumbling to each other, I think the teachers just need to present their case to the Super. (Don't get me wrong, I think this guy is the best thing to happen to us, and I know he would listen). Seems every school has it's own policy, but if I could get some statistics from national studies, doctors, etc., I'd appreciate it! I'm not having any luck.

[Crankin]

40 degrees???. When I worked in an elementary school, the cut off for outdoor recess was 25 degrees. Since this was in the late '90s, I don't think kid's ability to withstand cold weather has changed. What is wrong with these people? Another example of the way some just try to overprotect every aspect of a child's life.
There's nothing better than seeing a bunch of fifth graders come inside with rosy cheeks, take off their coats, and settle in for some learning.
I guess these powers that be don't go out and x country ski when it's -7 degrees out.

[uforgot]

I honestly think it's coming from parents. Their little darling doesn't want to go outside so the parent complains, and unfortunately, it's a small town so the Superintendent and board members get the calls. I also think that people honestly think that you get sick from going outside when it's cool or raining. My mother in law thought that. Wish I had a nickel for every time I told her that you get a cold from a virus, not from the temperature or the rain. (We played in the rain much to her horror). Oh, yeah, it's better to crowd the kids and germs in a small space all day. That will keep them healthy!

I realize I'm preaching to the choir. But I feel so much better!

[shootingstar]

I honestly think it's coming from parents. Their little darling doesn't want to go outside so the parent complains, and unfortunately, it's a small town so the Superintendent and board members get the calls. I also think that people honestly think that you get sick from going outside when it's cool or raining. My mother in law thought that. Wish I had a nickel for every time I told her that you get a cold from a virus, not from the temperature or the rain. (We played in the rain much to her horror). Oh, yeah, it's better to crowd the kids and germs in a small space all day. That will keep them healthy!

I realize I'm preaching to the choir. But I feel so much better!

Just a comment:

It rains alot here on the Northwest Pacific coast, yet I'm always amazed to see kids ages 8 and up, playing soccer in steady rain. They are wearing uniforms so it is a real game with parents hanging about on the sidelines. Temperatures would be around 40 and below (or above).

However I don't recall having great fun out on the playground when it rained. But great fun playing in snow at very cold temp. at school playground. Oh yes, we also had an outdoor ice rink on the school playground. Yep, I went to one of those schools.
Parents need to be reminded of children in the snowier parts of North America.

[Melalvai]

According to this chart, frostbite isn't a concern until it is 10 degrees, and then only if the wind is 55 mph.
wikihow recommends keeping children in if the temperature drops to -13F!

Good luck getting them out of doors!

Maybe some kids, especially these days, don't really know what to do when they get outside. Perhaps you could organize some games & fun races?

[Grog]

It's all relative.

Being from Quebec, I spent my childhood recess times outdoors at temperatures down to -15 or -20 Celcius (sub-zero F). However, we were all little Quebecers with lots of appropriate winter gear such as boots, coats, snow pants, mittens, etc. (It probably took about 10 minutes to get us dressed for recess.) Here in Vancouver I wouldn't send the kids out if the temperatures were below 0 Celcius (32F) since most people don't have appropriate winter clothing, and would indeed endanger themselves. I'm not that old (32) but maybe the rules have changed. I sort of doubt it.

If you're in Missouri, I'd sort of expect people to have what it takes to survive the around freezing point.

[Veronica]

Our kids go out if it's not raining. They run around and play in temperatures in the mid 40s to low 50s with no coats on, in short sleeves! They don't care; they're having fun. This is CA so a lot of them don't even have winter coats.

Sometimes I think having a child must turn off the logical part of the brain.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

According to this chart, frostbite isn't a concern until it is 10 degrees, and then only if the wind is 55 mph.

Weeeeeellll, according to my ears, they've been frostbitten at 20° above with not too much wind. It's true it was considerably colder than that when my fingers and toes got frostbite, and ears aren't really that big of a concern.

But I agree that kids should be outside.

[Biciclista]

can any of you remember being out for recess and being HURT by 40 degree weather?
I can remember when it was freezing and playing with the ice in the puddles. That's a very sad commentary; what are we raising, hot house flowers? My mother made us go out no matter what the weather (thunderstorms excluded) and we went out and played. We got wet sometimes too, and we survived. I hope you can just talk plain old common sense to that principal. Humans survived millions of years without forced air heat and fleece lined gloves!!!

[jobob]

I can remember when it was freezing and playing with the ice in the puddles.

... aaaannnd we liked it !!

[jobob]

When I was a kid in western MA, elementary school was fairly close to home, but both jr high and high school were about a mile away -- I lived a few blocks shy of the school bus-eligible boundary in both instances.

I remember in particular walking with a neighbor to high school during the winter over snow so cold it squeaked, and be chanting in our newly-learned Spanish "¡Muy frio! ¡Es muy frio!"

Oh, and in elementary school, we had one of those tongue-frozen-on-cold-metal incidents during recess. I kid you not.

[Irulan]

Oh good Lord. Let's bubble wrap kids some more.

[zoom-zoom]

10ºF is the limit that my son's school has in place, which seems reasonable to me. I think when I was growing up the limit was 0.

Seriously, I am starting to think people south of the Mason-Dixon are kinda wussy. I have friends in TX and Alabama and they whine when it gets below 50 that it is too cold to go outside (most runners will agree that 50 is ideal for running). Then all Summer long they whine that it's too hot. These are people who use treadmills more than 6 months of the year and think I'm nuts when I go running in below-freezing or even sub-zero temps with ample snow on the ground. I think they are nuts for being willing to run or bike indoors when the roads are dry and temps are not dangerous in either extreme.

[uforgot]

When I was a kid in western MA, elementary school was fairly close to home, but both jr high and high school were about a mile away -- I lived a few blocks shy of the school bus-eligible boundary in both instances.

I remember in particular walking with a neighbor to high school during the winter over snow so cold it squeaked, and be chanting in our newly-learned Spanish "¡Muy frio! ¡Es muy frio!"

Oh, and in elementary school, we had one of those tongue-frozen-on-cold-metal incidents during recess. I kid you not.

When I ride my bike to school I see lots of parents, sitting with their kids in the car at the end of the DRIVEWAY! The weather doesn't matter, they are always there.

Oh, and did you catch the Mythbusters and the frozen metal/ tongue episode? It's true...

[lph]

I agree with Grog, and think you have to take into consideration what the normal temperature range is around there. Here in Oslo everyone is used to temps down to -10 to -15 C, but -15 to -20 is quite rare. It happens, but not every winter, and not for long. Last week we had a cold snap, and when it was colder than -15 C the kids were allowed to stay indoors for recess. I think it was a combination of a bit too much hassle to get dressed, and that some of them maybe didn't have warm enough clothes. Not everybody around here is born and raised in a cold climate.