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

[mom2brina]

At our Primary school, we've recently had a change. It used to be below 32 degrees the kids stay inside, it is now below 20 degrees they stay inside. This was put into effect without any notice at all, and now some parents are upset. Some background info ... the primary grades used to be at a different building and are now in a new school. The new school uses the gym to double as a cafeteria at lunch time and therefore, they have no place to put the kids when they stay inside, except to keep them in the classroom. Then they have issues with supervision due to the fact that they only have a few recess supervisors for 8-10 classes.

So, what does your school do?

 

[michellev]

If 32F was the cut-off where I live, my kids wouldn't have recess all winter. They only keep them in when it is cold enough to issue a "cold weather warning". Parents are reminded to make sure to send weather appropriate clothing.

 

[Hillbeans]

I think ours is 36 degrees - including Wind-Chill.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

Are all pp from the Deep South? I guess I'm thinking like a hearty Minnesotan but I couldn't believe the temps pp have posted about the kids staying indoors at recess. I'm a former second grade teacher and all of our K-4 students went outdoors to play for 10-20 minutes unless there was a severe windchill of -10 F. or colder. Most of our parents were very good about bundling their kids up with winter jackets, snow pants, mittens, scarves, boots, etc. but we had a few that must have thought they lived in Orlando. We kept a supply of winter clothing in the nurse's office that these children frequently used. I'm interested to hear what others post as their cut off for outdoor recess.

 

[Ilovemylife]

If 32F was the cut-off where I live, my kids wouldn't have recess all winter. They only keep them in when it is cold enough to issue a "cold weather warning". Parents are reminded to make sure to send weather appropriate clothing.

No kidding!!

Our kids stay in when the air temp or wind chill is below zero.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

It's 32 for my son's school (1st grade).

For DD(3rd grade), there is no clear temperature. Whatever is "safe for the amount of time the children are outdoors". It was 29 on Monday and she went to recess. I wasn't happy. She took a scarf, hat, gloves, heavy winter coat, and an ear wrap. I don't let my kiddos play outside at home at that temp (they don't want to), unless it's snowing (and they can come indoors anytime they want).

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?

 

[Tigger Woods]

10 degrees. (I live in Indiana)

 

[pperfectmom]

We homeschool, but I will send my kids out no matter what the weather. I let them play in the rain, the snow and the cold(unless it truly is bitterly cold with a major windchill). Kids do not get sick from getting cold and/or wet. That is just an old wives tale.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I think ours is 36 degrees - including Wind-Chill.

WHAT?! I see you live in NJ, do they just keep the kids inside all winter?

When I was in elementary (not that long ago, I'm a senior in college now), I think the limit was 0-air or windchill. The attitude was that life doesn't stop because it's cold out so we had to learn to dress for the weather. Kids that weren't appropriately dressed had to have indoor recess, the rest of us could go play. Personally I'm glad they had that rule; I've had days in college where I had to hike 15 mins to class in -20 or worse windchills

 

[Mom2Cam&Con]

This just made me laugh because when I picked up DS3 from school yesterday he was very upset that the teacher kept the preschool class inside during playtime (recess) because it was too cold . I believe the temp was in the upper 50's yeterday. BTW The older classes were allowed to play outside during recess, older DS loved sharing this info with DS3 . We live just west of New Orleans!

 

[stsomewhere]

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

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Oh gosh, it would have to be pretty darn low. If we nixed recess at 32 degrees here in MI the kids would never get outside.

Or not (per the above poster).

 

[zulaya]

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.

 

[mickeyboat]

Our school stays inside if it is 10 or below. The kids came home a few weeks ago saying they had changed it to 15, but we haven't been notified.

I send the kids prepared in full winter gear every day, anyway, so it doesn't really matter to me when they keep them in. I know my kids will be warm. Heck, emily begged to stay out last year when it was -10. I let her stay out for about 20 minutes and then told her to come in. My kids looooove the cold weather.

Denae

 

[Kathi OD]

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

WOW! I'm surprised that a temp that high is the cut-off in MI. Our kids go out unless there has been a warning issued that being outside is dangerous. They might only go out for a few minutes, but they do get a chance to get outside, run around, and expend some energy.

I don't know where this idea that "it's too cold to have recess" came from. I can't remember ever having to stay inside during recess in the winter, unless the playground was covered with snow and maintenance hadn't had a chance to plow it yet.

Going outside when it's cold for a few minutes isn't going to kill a child.

 

[smkiss02]

It's 32 for my son's school (1st grade).

For DD(3rd grade), there is no clear temperature. Whatever is "safe for the amount of time the children are outdoors". It was 29 on Monday and she went to recess. I wasn't happy. She took a scarf, hat, gloves, heavy winter coat, and an ear wrap. I don't let my kiddos play outside at home at that temp (they don't want to), unless it's snowing (and they can come indoors anytime they want).

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?

29F is nice spring weather for us.

If that's what the cut off was for us...well...there would be no recess for a good 6 months.

School's don't even get closed here when it's -40F plus a wind chill. Bundle up and you're good to go!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Are all pp from the Deep South? I guess I'm thinking like a hearty Minnesotan but I couldn't believe the temps pp have posted about the kids staying indoors at recess. I'm a former second grade teacher and all of our K-4 students went outdoors to play for 10-20 minutes unless there was a severe windchill of -10 F. or colder. Most of our parents were very good about bundling their kids up with winter jackets, snow pants, mittens, scarves, boots, etc. but we had a few that must have thought they lived in Orlando. We kept a supply of winter clothing in the nurse's office that these children frequently used. I'm interested to hear what others post as their cut off for outdoor recess.

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.

 

[piglet too]

I believe our school is 20, however they still try to send them out for a few minutes no matter what. We are told to send them to school each day dressed to have outdoor recess.

 

[lillygator]

I am not sure...but if we get to 32, I need to move further south!

 

[TwinsinCA]

This thread makes me laugh. Like a couple others on the thread I lived in MN and I remember the magical number being zero growing up.

I have no idea how cold it would have to be for them to keep kids inside around here. It just doesn't get that cold. However, they do get kept inside if it is too hot. Anything over 100 (even high 90's a few times) they announce a "hot day schedule" and they have to stay inside for recess.