Outdoor Recess in Winter

During the winter months in cold climates, schools are faced with making the decision of when recess should be held inside.  School administrators need to weigh the risks of injury with the benefits of unstructured, undirected activity, which is limited during indoor recess. We use the Iowa Department of Public Health Child Care Weather Watch calendar to help us determine the recess plan. Mr. Sugrue, Mrs. Dressler, Mrs. Lack, and I, or any combination of this group, make the decision. 

In a review of pertinent research on recess conducted during the last twenty years, Waite-Stupiansky and Findlay conclude that, “. . .daily outdoor recess is the single venue that provides students with the irreplaceable and unparalleled opportunity to refresh their brains, exercise their hearts and muscles, choose their own activities, make friends, work out problems and have fun.  Recess is the fourth “R” because it helps children learn the other three.”1  Although indoor recess can provide some opportunity for free choice, students are more limited in their physical movements, interactions. The majority of recesses will be held outside.

Please make sure that you dress your children appropriately.  Coats, snow-pants, boots, hats and mittens are a must when the weather is cold. Despite possible protests, even the fifth and 6th graders need these items, with the exception of snow-pants, unless they are going to play in the snow. For children with asthma, they should wear a scarf, mask, or neck-warmer. Covering their mouth and nose warms the cold air so is less irritating to their lungs.

I suggest that your child always has a spare pair of socks in their backpack.

Healthy Wishes!

Heather

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Resilience is a key skill for children to learn.

Heather Makris,  BSN RN NCSN

Luther Conant Elementary School Nurse

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(978)266-2550

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