A good old-fashioned snow day can be healthy for kids, doctors say: ‘Permission to unplug’

Ahead of a major winter storm forecast to hit much of the country over the weekend, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced there will be no traditional snow days for children.

The storm is expected to reach the city on Sunday and continue into Monday, bringing between 8 and 12 inches of snow and frigid temperatures.

At a climate briefing news conference Friday, Mamdani said the final decision between in-person learning and remote learning will be announced at noon Sunday.

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“I have to apologize to the students who were expecting a different response for a traditional snow day,” he said. “That will not be the case.”

‘Unplugging’ for mental health

Following Mamdani’s controversial announcement, doctors weighed in on the decision, noting that snow days can be beneficial for children.

“From a mental health standpoint, the old-school unplugged snow day is actually very healthy for kids,” Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author based in New York and Washington, D.C., told News Digital. “Sometimes the healthiest message we can send to kids is simple: ‘Today, go out and have fun.'”

Snow days should not be seen as “wasted time,” Alpert added. They help regulate the nervous system, improve mood, and allow children to return to school more focused and refreshed.

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Time spent outdoors doing physical activity can also be beneficial, he noted.

“An occasional snow day gives kids something they rarely enjoy now: old-fashioned outdoor fun,” he said. “Sledding, snowballing, fort building… no screens, no Zoom links, no pressure to stay productive.”

“Kids don’t need more screen time,” she added. “They need movement, fresh air, unstructured play and permission to unplug.”

News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Marc Siegel echoed the benefits of having a full day off with no obligations.

“I love the idea of ​​an old-fashioned snow day for physical and mental health: for kids to play in the snow, build a carrot-nosed snowman, mingle and socialize, and have harmless snowball fights,” she said.

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Kathryn L. Jones, M.D., Ph.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU in Richmond, Virginia, also supports snow days as a way to help kids slow down and rediscover play.

“Children don’t need more screen time. They need movement, fresh air, unstructured play, and permission to unplug.”

“Children and teens are highly scheduled with extracurricular activities, and even when they have free time, they often seek relaxation and restoration online, whether by playing video games or interacting with the wide variety of social media applications at their disposal,” he told News Digital.

“With so much external and internal pressure to grow faster, we end up with children who become adults who have forgotten how to play,” Jones continued. “There is a kinesthetic pleasure in playing outside in the snow, noticing textures, temperatures, all the senses activated and engaged.”

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Jones suggested that snow day doesn’t get the “respect and grace” it deserves.

“For the lessons learned about nature, the world around us, and our own internal landscapes, the snow day is worth it.”

Pros and cons of virtual learning

Alpert noted that Zoom-based learning was found to be ineffective during the COVID pandemic.

“We already did the experiment of replacing real life with remote learning during the pandemic and the results were clear,” Alpert said.

“Zoom school doesn’t serve as real learning or real rest. It keeps kids mentally active without giving them structure or recovery, which is exactly where stress and burnout build up.”

Jarrod M. Leffler, Ph.D., chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychology at Richmond Children’s Hospital at VCU in Richmond, Virginia, said virtual learning can have benefits if implemented well.

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“Moving to virtual learning during a snowstorm can provide student consistency and limit the ability to add days to the school year,” he told News Digital. “For some young people, this can be a positive experience.”

However, if learning is not planned, supported and implemented well, the shift to virtual could cause more stress for students and teachers, according to Leffler.

“In addition, depending on the intensity of inclement weather, teachers may have to manage life stressors that do not normally require attention while teaching, creating stress for the teacher, which can impact the learning experience,” he said.

“It is important not to impose a high level of learning load on the student to limit increased stress and potentially impact emotional and behavioral functioning.”

Tips for an active and safe snow day

For kids who have the opportunity to enjoy a snow day unplugged, doctors offered some simple tips to make the most of it.

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“Stay warm, wear hats, gloves and coats, and if you get wet, go inside for a warm shower and a cup of hot chocolate,” Siegel suggested.

“These are some of my best childhood memories, besides sledding down ‘Dead Man’s Hill.'”

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If being outdoors is not an option due to extreme weather, Leffler suggested children can participate in indoor activities that are also rewarding, enjoyable and creative.

“It may be helpful for caregivers to help plan and/or offer some indoor activity options to help reduce potential stress and irritability if the child is required to remain indoors,” she advised.