Recommended Temperatures for Outdoor Play for Children

Every child care provider needs to monitor the outdoor temperature to ensure it is safe for children to play outside. In the warmer months, heatstroke and sunburn can result, and in the colder months, hypothermia and frostbite can happen. Some states in the United States, including Missouri and Iowa, have adopted the green, yellow and red guidelines, which suggest the temperatures for safe outdoor play.

Green

• The green condition suggests the temperatures at which it is safe for children to play outdoors comfortably. At these temperatures children shouldn't be displaying any overtly hot or cold signs. In the colder months, this condition is between 40 degrees and 32 degrees Fahrenheit when the wind is between 0 and 15 miles per hour. In the warmer months, the green condition suggests that children can play comfortably outdoors when the temperature is between 80 and 89 degrees.

Yellow

• When temperatures reach the yellow condition, you should use caution when deciding how long children should spend outdoors. Closely observe the children for any signs of them being too hot or too cold. When it's cold outside, the yellow condition sets temperatures of between 30 degrees and 13 degrees Fahrenheit when the wind speeds are between 0 and 40 mph. When it's warm outside, child care providers should show caution when the temperatures are between 90 and 103 degrees.

Red

• The red condition defines the temperatures that are not recommended for outdoor child play. Most children should not play outside in these temperatures due to the health risk. In the winter months, these temperatures are anything below 9 degrees Fahrenheit no matter what the wind speed is. In the summer months, the red condition states that it can be very dangerous for children to play outside when the temperature is above 100 degrees.

Considerations

• The green, yellow and red conditions are only general suggestions. Each child may show slightly different temperatures that they are susceptible to. Therefore, it's important to always monitor children when they are playing to ensure they are dressed appropriately, drinking enough water and using any necessary precautions, such as sunscreen. Pay special attention to infant behavior because they can't tell you if they are too hot or too cold; however, most will become fussy if they are uncomfortable. You may need to take a firm approach with some older children as they may not want to take the proper precautions, such as wearing enough clothing and drinking enough fluids.