Our school will not allow students to go outside for recess if the temperature or wind chill is below 32 degrees. What is the rule about outside recess at your school?
We live in Southern Florida. If it drops below 50 we don't take them out because so many parents send their kid to school in shorts and no jacket! I guess because it gets warmer as the day goes on, they don't care that their little one is shaking like crazy.
I think this is so funny, because my students have been biting at the bit to go outside (in Iowa). They can't go out when it is below ZERO! I have to check the weather before they go out and they are just praying to go out - even if our windchill is about 20 below. They have been cooped up in the room for the past two weeks! YUCK!
We can't go outside if the windchill is below 30!!!!
It stinks! We have been cooped up inside since December! I do lunch duty and they are driving me nuts wanting to go outside. But so many parents do not send their children prepared to be outside, so we have to stay in.
Our students in southern Alberta often enjoy going out when it is very cold but they do dress for the weather (coats, hats, mitts, snowpants, scarves, boots, etc.). We think that -20 Celcius is just fine for the 15 minutes of recess (that would be about -5 Fahrenheit). Earlier in the week is was -25C (-15F) but we were hit by a chinook yesterday. Now it is a lovely +8C (47F) .
On behalf of all of us stubborn Americans--- Thank you for including the conversions on those temperatures!
I'm in southeastern Missouri and our school policy is if the temp is below 32 we stay inside. We look at the wind chill also as our playground is very exposed. We've been stuck inside since we came back from holiday break in December. These kids NEED to go outside. If only we could count on the parents to send their children dressed properly for the weather, maybe we could go out. I realize that some families can't afford winterwear, but we have agencies within our school that help with such matters.
The diversity is very funny on this. I love that kids are "wearing shorts and not jackets when it is 50 F!" You are so temperature spoiled! Well, Florida also has rain days instead of snow days! We do not have any rule. If there is a wind chill below 0 F and no sun, than they do not go out. Our kids wear snow pants, hats, mittens and all the gear...until they get to middle school and think it is cool to wear no jacket and hat when it is zero degrees out! Indoor recess stinks.
if the windchill is below 1 degree. We sneaked out a couple of times last week (principal wasn't in the building!) and this week we've been cooped up! AAAAHHHH! They need to go out! Here in Iowa the little kids dress for the weather with boots, snowpants, hats, gloves, etc., but across the street at the high school they don't wear any coats or hats!
We have been trapped inside for recess in Michigan-the northern part of lower mich.
Our policy states that if it is below 10 (temp or windchill) we will not go out. Like others, my kids are chomping at the bit when I am checking the website for the verdict.
It barely got in the 40's today and the windchill was colder and we didn't go outside. Like the other poster said I had students come to school in a t-shirt today and shorts earlier this week. The children are cold, you would think their parents would dress them appropriately. Oh well.
We are n NJ and we don't go out it is below 32, that includes the wind chill factor making it feel below 32. Bascally we don't go out all winter
Actually we were lucky this year in that we were out most of December! Oh and we don't go out if there is snow on the ground. The other day it was about 40 and there was very little, and I mean very little, and we didn't get to go out I cannot wait until there is outdoor recess. Even though we have recess duty twice a week.
We do not have a playground so we NEVER have outdoor recess. Our recess is always in the gym. There is a park about a block away from our school. When it is exceptionally nice, we can sometimes get special permission to go to the park for a few minutes but there has to be an educational agenda. Last year, I took my students to study the bark on the trees because we were making Family Trees and I wanted them to be as life like as possible! Some students/classes (particularly special education) participate in the Courageous Pacers program where they walk around the park and tally their miles. Then they have a celebration at the end of the year when they reach 100 miles. However, as I said, there are only a few students/classes that are able to participate. I truly miss outdoor recess!!!
I think it's so funny how different everyone is with the rules. I would absolutely hate to go outside in anything less than 40 degrees (we're in central Florida). I don't know how you all do it up north!!! I was cold all day today. Today I was praying my class would want to play silent speedball inside because it was about 50 degrees, but of course they wanted to go out. I just walked the playground while they played to stay warm. Do you go out when it snows?
It's the best way to experience the magic!!! A few years ago I had an ESOL class - all students from South America, Puerto Rico, etc. One of them glanced up and saw snow and it was absolute pandemonium. None of them had ever seen it before. They all ran out the door - there was no containing them - and stood on the front step with their hands reaching for the sky trying to catch those snowflakes. One of those moments you never forget.
Our school in Philadelphia will not send the kids out when it is below 32 degrees. Sometimes when it was sunny that seemed too restrictive and conservative to me (and I wanted those kids to get their running time!). But then....
My daughter's Montessori preschool in the burbs this week sent them out to play in 10 or less degree weather. She came home with red, chapped hands b/c no one monitored that she kept her gloves on. So then I re-thought my opinion on the cold and sided with my school on 32 degrees and playing it safer for the kids.
If we can't watch them to see they all have their gear on, we shouldn't take a risk they could get frostbite or chapped hands, faces, etc. I wasn't too happy with my daughter's hands so I saw a parent's/kids side instead of just my teacher side.
Our district policy is that we can go out as long as it's not below 10 degrees -- and as long as children have appropriate gear. We have some that insist on wearing just a hoodie sweatshirt and aren't allowed out in that. We also have a "just in case" rule that says if windchill reaches a dangerous temperature (not defined though) or there is ice causing it to be treacherous on the surface or equipment, we are not to go out, at principal's discretion.
I live in S. Louisiana. We don't go outside below 40*F. Most people, myself included, just don't have the heavy coats that you'd have if you lived up north.
we probably wouldn't go out. Sometimes they'll let them go out for a 15 minute recess when it's colder, but not the 30 minute after lunch recess.
We also have kids who dress inapproriately for the weather. We had snow Wed. A student came in platform sandals yesterday. This is in central New Mexico, at the foothills of the mountains.
I don't think we have a policy, but we do let parents know we will be going out, so send your kid dressed. We are in NC and a few weeks ago it snowed and the kids went crazy. I teach third grade and many hadn't seen snow for two years. I took them out for about ten minutes during the heaviest snow and they were so excited to just run and run and run. Moments you treasure as a teacher!
I'm a lifelong Florida girl and our school doesn't go out if it's less than 50. I cannot even IMAGINE some of these temps you are talking about. -5, BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!
My assistant will not go out if it is less than 50 degrees. This winter we have only had in days becuase she will not go out witht he class and their recess is my lunch time. I have thought about traiding lunch times with her but she is a bit flaky and often does not come back to school after lunch.
We can't go out if the windchill is below 19 degrees. I agree that the kids are sooooo cooped up that it makes the day so much harder when they are inside for weeks straight.
At my school if it's above 20 degrees (with windchill) then we're outside. I wish is were higher than that because I HATE cold weather and standing outside with a temp. of 21 is not my idea of fun. We go in the gym for recess on the "cold" days, which is fine by me. If we had to have recess in our classrooms, I think I'd probably choose to freeze.
We don't have any policies in place. I will tell you my policy though. I refuse to be cold. I hate being cold! If it is below 50 we don;t go out. I also can;t imagine being out in temps like 0. That just makes me hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the wind chill is below 0, the kids don't go outside. Anything above that, they are outside running off all of that energy they store up. What I'd give for just a quarter of that energy.
What's that... in SC all we get is ice. Anyway, our school policy is if the windchill or temperature is below 42 we can't go out. We have to check the weather before we go out. We've actually gotten in trouble a couple of times this year for taking them out when the principal thought it was too cold. If you ask me, it is completely unfair to expect these kids to stay inside all day without getting any energy out. They can't really release any energy inside. I wish that they would let teachers be the judge. We can tell when it is too cold AND we know not to let kids that are dressed inappropriately go out!
If I had to come up with a rule, I'd guess that if it's below 50* we don't go outside (another Florida girl here). I hate the cold, but my kids hate it much worse than I do. Even when it's chilly and sunny, if I give them a vote only 2 at the most will vote for outside time. I had to force them out the other day, and it was 58* and sunny!
Up here in Saskatchewan, Canada I think it varies from school to school. I know that this year we have pushed the mark to even colder as the kids get squirrely if they don't get outside. Usually around -28 C we stay in (-18.4F). But the kids were out when the windchill was between -30 to -32 C (-22 --25.6 F).
We encourage (expect) "everyone " to have ski pants, winter boots touques, mitts and a scarf or neck warmer to pull over their face. Sometimes we will shorten up a recess just to get out and run to the fence and back to get their blood going and give them a bit of movement. I am sure if you talked to people farther up north from us, they go out colder, you just have to be bundled up and have your face covered.
I guess we all manage with the weather we have. I was in Florida two summers ago and was thankful that our summers don't get that hot up here. I am sure they would say the exact same thing about our winters.
We have the opposite problem in August-October here in Phoenix, Arizona. If the temp is too high (110 F-115 F) then we have to stay in for a "heat advisory" day. The crazy thing is that the first day of school keeps getting earlier and earlier! Mid August is the norm.
If the wind chill is below zero they cancel school or have a 2 hour delay.
For the most part we won't go out if it's below 40-50 degrees. Quite often the other problem is that the ground is wet and muddy, and eve if there are rules about clothing and shoes, parents allow them to come in innappropriate clothing. They get used to indoor recess. I have wooden blocks that they love to build with, both boys and girls.
as our principal calls for inside recess when it's too cold (50's), too windy, and a slight drizzle in the air. I'll bet those kidlets go out to play at home, in those dreadful conditions! District does call if it gets 100 degrees, or a smog alert---ahhhh, So. Ca.
i have a 3 year old who is in head start. he has been sick all winter.i told the school i dont want my child outside if it is not 50 or warmer. the said they had to take them out.obviously the are not parents,because what idiot would send there sick 3 year old out to play when its 30 degrees outside.come on we have got to do better.
02-16-2007, 03:08 PM
because my students have been biting at the bit to go outside (in Iowa). They can't go out when it is below ZERO! I have to check the weather before they go out and they are just praying to go out - even if our windchill is about 20 below. They have been cooped up in the room for the past two weeks! YUCK!
I have thought about traiding lunch times with her but she is a bit flaky and often does not come back to school after lunch.
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