Recess Time
Recess monitors or teachers should encourage students to be active, and they can be powerful role models by being physically active alongside the students whenever feasible. Because children benefit from vigorous exercise, they should be given the opportunity to play outside whenever possible. Unless it is snowing or there is ice on the playground, low temperatures should not be a barrier to outside play, as long as children are appropriately dressed. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene strongly encourages principals to maintain outdoor play periods on the vast majority of winter days. The NYC DOE recommends that in the event a school must conduct indoor recess, teachers and staff should develop and follow an indoor recess plan that promotes physical activity for students, to the extent practicable.
