“I Need the Shade”: Experiences and Perceptions of Elementary School Children During Recess in Hot Weather

Background: Few studies have investigated how heat impacts play from the perspective of children. The purpose of this study was to explore children’s experiences of recess play during high temperatures.

Methods: We used the draw-and-tell method to retrospectively explore the experiences of recess during hot weather among students (N = 38) between the ages of 5-12 attending four elementary schools in one school district in Arizona (United States). Students were asked to imagine themselves at recess on a hot day, select their preferred playground picture (shaded or unshaded), draw a picture of themselves in the playground, and explain their drawings. Drawings and narrations were analyzed using content analysis and constant comparative methods.

Results: Most students (89%) selected the playground picture with shade. Four themes describing students’ experiences were found: (a) discomfort, (b) self-awareness of heat affecting health and safety, (c) influence of heat on play and physical activity, and (d) adaptive strategies for managing heat during recess.

Conclusions: Students are aware that playing outside in the heat has the potential to negatively impact their health and adapt their play to occur in the shade.

Implications for school health policy, practice, and equity: Outdoor school play spaces should increase access to shade.