Hot Tips for Cold Weather Recess
written by Chesa Peter
Cold Weather doesn’t have to freeze fun!
When the snow starts falling and the thermometer dips, recess can quickly become one of the most debated times of the school day. How cold is too cold? What if students forget their mittens, again?! And how do we offer students choice when space is limited?
What’s not up for debate? Recess is not just a break but a key piece of the school day. Play is essential for learning, social connection, and overall well-being, and it’s also a child’s right. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 31), every child has the right to rest, leisure, and play. That’s where the Cold Weather Recess Planning Guide can help! This guide is available for free and encourages a proactive and holistic approach to the recess time period, outlining three strategies for cold weather recess that were inspired by Alberta schools. It also includes materials to support the implementation of each strategy.
Adapted from that guide, here are five tips to help you navigate cold-weather planning and keep the spirit of recess alive, no matter the temperature.
1. Get a Weather Station for Your School
Skip the generic weather app and install a weather station on school grounds. Not only will it give you more accurate, real-time data, but it might also mean more outdoor play days than you expect!
Bonus: This makes a great Grade 5 Science connection, giving students a hands-on opportunity to learn about the measurement and tracking of weather conditions!
2. Dress for Success
Outdoor play is much more enjoyable when everyone’s warm and dry. Help students (and parents) be ready for anything by:
- Helping students and parents learn to dress for the weather and sharing regular reminders. Use this great infographic: How to Dress for the Weather.
- Adding an extra pair of mittens and a toque to your school supply list so students have them on hand when needed.
- Setting up a “Layers Library” — a collection of donated winter gear students can borrow if they forget theirs or if items get wet.
3. Think Creatively About Indoor Space
When it’s truly too cold to go outside, look beyond the gym! Hallways, foyers, and classrooms can become recess zones.
Try resources like Don’t Walk in the Hallway from Ever Active to transform untraditional spaces into fun, active environments that get students moving safely indoors.
4. Choose Inclusive, Non-Elimination Games
Recess is more than just physical activity, it’s a time for connection and social-emotional growth. When planning games, prioritize activities where no one is “out” and everyone keeps moving.
5. Let Students Lead and Choose
Even in winter, recess should stay student-driven. Offer choice wherever you can: let students vote on activities, take turns leading games, or help design indoor play zones.
When students feel ownership over their play, they’re more engaged, cooperative, and eager to participate, inside or out.
With a little planning and creativity, winter doesn’t have to stand in the way of students’ rest, leisure, and play. Here’s to recess success, whatever the weather brings!
