The temperatures are dropping down into the uncomfortably cold category for southern Saskatchewan this week with wind chills below -20 C.
Twyla West with the Regina Catholic School Division joined the 980 CJME Morning Show on Tuesday to offer a friendly reminder to parents to make sure their kids are bundled up.
“Make sure you’ve got the ski pants ready and the toque and the scarf and the mittens, because they are most likely going outside,” West said.
The standard temperature to keep kids inside for recess is -27 C with or without the wind chill.
“There are a couple schools that we have that have a Polar Bear Club and so those kids actually have a signed permission slip from mom and dad that says they are allowed to go outside because they come dressed appropriately,” West explained.
She added that it is also up to the principals of individual schools to decide to keep kids indoors depending on how cold it is in their particular area.
“If the wind kind of hits that particular part of the playground a little bit differently – then you know we don’t want the little kindergartners flying around or anything like that,” West said with a laugh.
West pointed out that kids generally keep moving when they are playing outside and that makes all the difference when it comes to keeping warm.
For kids who may show up to school without warm winter clothing, West said the schools often have donated toques and mitts available.
According to the Regina Public School Division website, principals can use their discretion to call an indoor recess but it is advised for any day with temperatures below -25 C.