At what Temp. does your childs school stay inside for recess?

[mom2brina]

20 degrees? Seriously?

I know that down South, the blood's a little thinner, but you get the colder days right?

I'm in the Twin Cities in MN. Our school rule for elementary is you are outside UNLESS the air temp is 0 degrees OR the windchill is -10 degrees.

at 20 degrees, these kids would be inside for probably4-5 months of the school year.

Maybe you are upset at the lack of notification? At the same time, if you are dressing a child for 32 degree weather, they should be wearing about the same stuff for 20 degree weather.

I'd love to be in the South, but we're not.

Yes, I am upset with the lack of notification. In response to your "if you are dressing a child for 32 degree weather, they should be wearing about the same stuff for 20 degree weather", perhaps you don't understand. When I took her to school on Monday, there was snow on the ground and it was below 32 degrees. I figured it wasn't a huge deal that she did not have her hat and gloves since they wouldn't be going outside and I drop her off and pick her up from school. Because I wasn't notified in the change in policy, it was a big deal. She was really cold on that playground for 30 minutes, 3 times that day. Still no notification went out on Monday, only some parents were notified yesterday. Keep in mind that if you don't normally send your kid out in cold weather and you are used to the school policy of 32 degrees (including windchill), you may not even have a true heavy coat for your child. My kid does have a heavy coat, but I know of others who don't.

Funny thing is the Principal at the Middle school refused to change his policy. It is and always was 32 degrees, so the older kids get to stay inside and the little Kindergarteners thru 2nd have to go outside.

Anyway, I was just curious to see what it is around the country. I can actually understand sending the kids out below 32 degrees, I know it won't cause sickness, etc... I do wish the school had been better about changing policy and notifying parents so that they can be better prepared.

 

[cabanafrau]

Anyting under 40 degrees, they have recess in their classroom. We live in Mi.

I've never seen a Michigan district with such a high temperature threshhold for outdoor recess, wow!

Our district is indoor recess when the air temp is under ten degrees or windchill under zero.

 

[BabyTigger99]

I believe ours in any combo that makes it below zero, either with or without the wind chill. This coming from the "frozen tundra" in Wisconsin!

 

[stsomewhere]

I've never seen a Michigan district with such a high temperature threshhold for outdoor recess, wow!

Our district is indoor recess when the air temp is under ten degrees or windchill under zero.

My kids go to a charter school. Most girls wear the uniform skirts.
Maybe the teachers don't like to go out in that weather.

 

[stsomewhere]

I wanted to add that their school has a lot of low income families and free lunch kids.
Maybe they are worried that some kids would not be warm enough.

 

[Ilovemylife]

I'm not sure what the rule is for my DD13's school.

My DD goes to a Catholic school where they wear uniforms. Most of the girls wear a skirt, although pants are allowed, so the girls are a lot colder than the boys; also they are required to wear specific shoes while in school -- they are not allowed to wear boots in school.

I found the above post quite amusing. I can understand a jacket, mittens, scarves, etc. but the part I found really amusing was the "snow pants and boots". By the time you get your second graders into their snowpants, boots, hats, gloves, scarves and coats, how much time do they really have to play? You must be exhausted helping all those little kids because at that age I'm sure they still need help. I think they probably get more exercise from trying to get dressed and undressed than from actually being outside.

My 2nd grader does just fine getting her snowpants, boots, jacket, hat and gloves on by herself.

 

[Kae]

It just bugs me that the school is so concerned about attendance, but they'll send children outside when it's below freezing, and many of the kids only have a light coat. Perhaps that's why the kids get so sick?

You don't get sick from being out in the cold.

Kae

 

[jme829]

I'm in WI near the Twin Cities (just over the MN/WI border.) Our school is 0 or windchil of -10.... As far as snow, as long as the kids have boots and snowpants they are allowed to play in the snow...If not they have to stay on the shoveled blacktop area. They also have recess usually twice a day.

We came from Ohio where my kids didn't have ANY recess no matter the temp.

I love that my kids play outside every day, even (especially)in the cold. I think a few minutes of cold fresh air is great to "wake them up" and get them moving again. I think it kind of "clears their mind" KWIM?

 

[Liberty Belle]

It's up to the teachers at our school. We usually go out if it is 40 or above.
Oh, and if there is snow on the ground, forget it. We're not allowed to go out when the ground is wet or at all muddy.

 

[tchrrx]

We don't go outside if the teacher's think that it's too cold. Today it was around 40, but really windy, so we stayed in. Luckily, we are able to use the gym this year so the kids still get to run around and play.

 

[mamacatnv]

OP - I get your concern - that is a significant temp drop to change the policy with no warning to parents so they can prepare. I personally think the little kids do better in the cold since they are so much more active than the middle/high schoolers but I would be upset at the lack of warning.

I don't know what the temp cut off is here........but I assume it is way below freezing

 

[travelbug]

Indoor recess if the windchill temp. is below zero.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I work at a preschool in Knoxville. We go out(per DHS policy) if the wind chill is 32 or above and the heat index is 95 or lower. Not everyone likes this, but it is what is required by the state. What the state doesn't mandate(or at least our director's interpitation of the rule) is how long we must stay out.

 

[stacy347]

Southeast MI here and the kids go out unless the windchill hits -15F.

Personally I think that's way too cold have any fun but they muddle through.

 

[Nancy]

I just asked my daughter ause I had no idea. I didn't even think they did recess in schools anymore.

So my question was: "did you have recess in the winter?"

Her answer: "No, they wouldn't let us go out when it was cold, so if it was in the 30's no" she then continued "we didn't really have recess though, if the teachers wanted to take us out they did but that didn't happen too often even in the nice weather"

 

[cabanafrau]

My kids go to a charter school. Most girls wear the uniform skirts.
Maybe the teachers don't like to go out in that weather.

You're probably right, I've never heard of that before, but it seems logical.

 

[KirstenB]

Ours is 40 degrees. When I subbed, I used to have to remember a hat and gloves for me!! I grew up in Michigan and New York, but have become a cold wimp!

 

[MM27]

We don't have an official cut off temperature, my principal will just announce that it's an indoor recess day if he thinks it's too cold to be outside. The kids in my school wear uniforms too. It's funny, but on really cold days many of the girls wear their uniform skirts with the uniform pants underneath.

I take my students out as long as it's not raining or snowing. A few of the teachers I work with have already stopped recess because they don't want to stand outside in the cold.

 

[lulu71]

I think if it were 20 degrees here, school would be cancelled. LOL.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Anyting under 40 degrees, they have recess in their classroom. We live in Mi.

Wow, is this a private school? I believe ours is anything below 0 including wind chill.

Ignore my question as I see your answer. Even when I worked at a charter it was the same temps, though.