What are your district/school guidelines on when indoor recess is called? I'm mostly just curious about other district/school rules on this because I just survived a week of all indoor recess. For us, it's called when the temperature drops below 20 degrees, counting wind chill. If it hadn't been for wind chill today, we'd have been outside. It can also be called when the principal deems there to be too much rain or snow for kids to play safely.
For us I think it's just a teacher by teacher thing. It's only 10 minutes long so even if it's cold it won't hurt them
If it's raining, looks like it's about to rain, or rained the night before then we have indoor recess. The same goes for snow. In terms of temperature, in the colder months there's indoor recess whenever it is 32 or below. In the warmer months, I think it's based off the heat advisory/index. I believe it's 90 degrees or above and we can't go outside.
Wind chill below 32 degrees, and/or active rain above a sprinkle. I take my kids out whenever I am legally allowed to take them out, because indoor recess is the bane of my existence, and because the kids are going to get out all that energy somehow if we don't get outside.
We don't have recess. Back a few years ago when recess was allowed, we went out unless it rained or was just too hot...usually 95 or above.
I think it's interesting when schools let the teachers call it. We have lunchroom/playground supervisors, and the kids stay in if the temperature is below 10 degrees with the wind chill. I think it was 3 degrees today, so they stayed in.
We stay in if the temperature is below 42 or it is raining/snowing. Fortunately, the past few years we've had warmer than usual winters!
I was just asking my friend who's a 5th grade teacher about this. In her school it's a teacher call and she doesn't go outside if it's below 50!
We don't go out if it's over 90 (I'm anticipating lots of indoor lunches in June), or if there is ANY sign of rain - if it has rained at ALL that day, meaning the ground is wet. We don't really have true cold, but I know they don't let the kids go outside in the morning before school if it's "cold," which to them probably does mean below 50. I kind of roll my eyes at this but I also get it - a lot of our kids do not have the right clothing for colder weather. Teachers definitely don't call it - it's an administrative decision. If teachers called it, they would probably go outside a LOT more... We lose our breaks when it's indoor recess.
I can't imagine not going out because it rained earlier in the day. Does the playground become a mud hole? We stay out in the rain (spitting) but not if it's pouring. Our admin makes the call and they believe firmly in outdoor recess!
Given that I'm in Washington, where the rain is spread out pretty much over the entire school year, most schools will still go outside on rainy days, with a few caveats: 1.) If it's pouring (instead of sprinkling/lightly raining), they will generally do a mix of "indoor recess" / some kids allowed to play in the covered areas 2.) Often if the field is too soggy from previous rain but they are still having outside recess, they will have that be off-limits Since it's decently mild (no massive extremes in temperature either direction), that generally doesn't affect it, though did this last week (indoor recess once or twice during the week because the windchill was probably in the single digits).
South Texas kids think it's freezing below 50 degrees. We judge based on whether the kids are dressed appropriately for the weather if it's above forty. Below that, we don't go outside.
Actually, almost the entire playground is cement. I think it's totally ridiculous. I grew up in northern California, and we NEVER stayed in for wet cement. If I wake up and the ground is wet outside, I know we won't have recess that day, even if the sun comes out.
Just found out my school calls indoor recess if it's below 0 including windchill. It was 1F with windchill today and the kids went outside for 2 20 minute recesses. I think that's ridiculous.
Windchill has to be at 5 or above. My last district it was above 0. Yesterday it was right at 5 all day and we went out for all 3 recesses...an hour total...we survived! They hardly noticed because they were so excited to be outside after the -20 we had the day before. We will go out if it's wet, but no field and no equipment...concrete only. They LOVE going out while it's snowing! We will go out in light mist or sprinkles if we have been cooped up for a while.
Actual temp of 10 or above we go outside, unless windchill is 0. I never knew there could be a windchill of 32!!!:lol: What's too cold is so subjective! Of course I know many kiddos don't have clothing appropriate to stay safe in such sub-degree temps!
WHAT?! How is that not illegal? There's so much in the news these days about childhood obesity that I would think recess would be so important and not just for physical development, but social too. I learned how to be a leader, a follower, a negotiator, problem solver, ambassador (the boys used to "claim" all the basketballs on one side of the playground, while the girls claimed all the jump ropes on the other, so me and a few other brave souls would venture over to convince them to let us and the others share with them)
I'm surprised there are schools with no recess... how is this possible?? Elementary, right?? Yikes... We don't have specific temperature guidelines but the general rule, which is decided by admin, is if it's raining steadily we have indoor recess. If it's "spitting" or just misty we'll go out. If it's a sprinkle or more we'll stay in. If the playground (all cement) isn't plowed they'll stay in until that's done. If it's mostly ok but there are snowy/icy patches they'll just tell kids about off limit areas. If the temp is too cold (windchill too cold... frostbite concern.. etc) we'll stay in but if it's just cold we expect them to bundle up and get out there.
