How do the schools decide when to let children play outside and when to keep them in?

Dear Judy,

How do the schools decide when to let children play outside and when to keep them in?

First grade mom


Judy answers:

Dear First Grade Mom,

In a cold snap, like the one we just went through, it’s a no brainer to keep kids indoors. But in less extreme weather, many parents complain that kids are unnecessarily penned up. Kids get restless and rambunctious if they don’t get fresh air and outdoor play. In or out, it’s the principal who makes the call. Some districts and/or regions send out advisories with a rule of thumb about in or outdoor play. Here is a recent advisory sent to principals from the system’s director of physical education, Lori Benson.

“Children benefit from vigorous exercise and should be given the opportunity to play outside whenever possible. A number of factors, including temperature, wind speed, and precipitation, should go into determining whether outdoor play is appropriate in cold weather. For example, outside play on a sunny, windless day may be appropriate even when the temperature is below 32 degrees. It is important that children are appropriately dressed before they play in cold weather. Keep in mind that a child with asthma may occasionally experience increased symptoms when playing in cold weather. (Note that exercise-related asthma may occur at any temperature and can usually be prevented by pre-treatment.) Please also consult with your special education liaison or school nurse about the suitability of outdoor play for children with special needs.”

Ultimately, you should use your best judgment to decide if weather conditions are satisfactory for outside play when the temperature is below 32 degrees. For additional information, please contact Lori Benson at lbenson@schools.nyc.gov.”

Parents have asked us about this in the past. You can find an “Ask Julia” response to a related question and take a look at our article on Indoor Recess covering the issue. If you have a complaint or want to share your opinion about outdoor play in the winter time, log on to Forums and share your views with other parents.

Meanwhile, bundle up!

Judy