It’s normal for kids to complain about the cold at recess. (Snow-on-the-ground temperatures). Teachers would typically tell them “go run around for a bit. You’ll warm up.” I’ve heard this both as a student and as staff. But is this the right advice? Because I get warm when I exercise, but then once I’m sweaty and start to relax, I cool off quickly and feel colder than before. What’s the best advice for these kids if I have no say in going indoors? ELI5.
In: Biology
The trick is to move around enough to stay warm, but not so much as to start sweating.
Of you do, depending on how cold it is and how much you sweat/type of frabics, you need to remove those layers and have them somewhere they can dry.
If I’m spending a good deal of time out in the extreme cold, I always have spare base layers to swap out for later/when hard work is done.
In the case of kids, frostbite is definitely the larger concern in my mind. Keep an eye on them fingers, toes, and ears.
If it’s only for a 10-20 minute recess and it’s not colder, then say -15c they’ll be fine.
> I get warm when I exercise, but then once I’m sweaty and start to relax, I cool off quickly and feel colder than before.
>What’s the best advice for these kids if I have no say in going indoors?
“Keep moving until it’s time to come back in.”
Yes, physical activity will warm you up. Jackets for snowboarders and skiers typically have lots of vents you can open up to cool down because you will get really hot through physical activity even when it’s very cold outside.
You’ll heat up when you burn energy. The trick to not get cold is not to sweat.
Worst thing that can happen to arctic explorers, besides being mauled by a polar bear or a group of penguins – I always forget which one lives at the arctic – is sweating and freezing.
Uncomfortably cold, and dangerously cold are very different things.
If it is dangerously cold, kids should not be outside for recess. I’m going to assume the school is paying attention to that, and there’s no actual safety concern.
Then you’re just talking about run of the mill child complaints. I’m hot, I’m cold, I’m bored, I’m starving, there’s nothing on TV, etc… That’s what kids do. So, if it’s chilly at recess, they can choose to move around a bit (which does indeed warm you up) or, they can sit still and feel cold (but not be in any actual danger).
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