Mental health experts argue that traditional snow days benefit children more than virtual learning, citing outdoor play and unstructured time as essential for development.<\/b>
\nAhead of a significant winter storm forecast to impact much of the country throughout the weekend, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced there will not be traditional snow days for kids.
The storm is expected to reach the city on Sunday and continue into Monday, bringing as much as 8 to 12 inches of snow and frigid temperatures.
At a weather briefing press conference Friday, Mamdani said the final decision between in-person and remote learning will be announced by Sunday at noon.
\u00ab\u00a0I have to apologize to the students that were hoping for a different answer for a traditional snow day\u00a0\u00bb, he said. \u00ab\u00a0That will not be the case.\u00a0\u00bb\u2018Unplugging\u2019 for mental health
Following Mamdani\u2019s controversial announcement, doctors weighed in on the decision, pointing out that snow days can be beneficial for kids.
\u00ab\u00a0From a mental health standpoint, the old-school, unplugged snow day is actually very healthy for kids\u00a0\u00bb, Jonathan Alpert, a New York City and Washington, D.C.-based psychotherapist and author, told Fox News Digital. \u00ab\u00a0Sometimes the healthiest message we can send kids is simple: \u2018Today, go outside and have fun.\u2019\u00a0\u00bb
Snow days shouldn\u2019t be seen as \u00ab\u00a0lost time\u00a0\u00bb, Alpert added. They help regulate the nervous system, improve mood and allow kids to return to school more focused and refreshed.
The time spent outdoors being physically active can also be beneficial, he noted.
\u00ab\u00a0An occasional snow day gives kids something they rarely get now: old-fashioned outdoor fun\u00a0\u00bb, he said. \u00ab\u00a0Sledding, snowballs, building forts \u2026 no screens, no Zoom links, no pressure to stay productive.\u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0Children don\u2019t need more screen time\u00a0\u00bb, he added. \u00ab\u00a0They need movement, fresh air, unstructured play and permission to unplug.\u00a0\u00bb
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel echoed the benefits of having a full day off with no obligations.
\u00ab\u00a0I love the idea of an old-fashioned snow day for mental and physical health \u2014 for kids to play out in the snow, build a snowman with a carrot nose, to commingle and socialize, and to have harmless snowball fights\u00a0\u00bb, he said.
Kathryn L. Jones, M.D., Ph.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children\u2019s Hospital of Richmond at VCU in Richmond, Virginia, also supports snow days as a way to help kids slow down and rediscover play.
\u00ab\u00a0Children and teens are so highly programmed with extracurriculars \u2014 and even when they have free time, often seek relaxation and restoration online, whether in playing video games or engaging with the wide variety of social media apps at their disposal\u00a0\u00bb, she told Fox News Digital.
\u00ab\u00a0With so much external and internal pressure to grow up faster, we end up with kids who become adults who have forgotten how to play\u00a0\u00bb, Jones went on. \u00ab\u00a0There is such a kinesthetic pleasure in playing outside in the snow, to notice textures, temperatures, all senses activated and engaged.\u00a0\u00bb
Jones suggested the snow day doesn\u2019t get the \u00ab\u00a0respect and grace\u00a0\u00bb it deserves.
\u00ab\u00a0For the lessons learned about nature, the world around us and our own internal landscapes, the snow day is worthwhile.\u00a0\u00bbVirtual learning pros and cons
Alpert pointed out that Zoom-based learning was found to be ineffective during the COVID pandemic.
\u00ab\u00a0We already ran the experiment of replacing real life with remote learning during the pandemic, and the results were clear\u00a0\u00bb, Alpert said.
\u00ab\u00a0Zoom school doesn\u2019t function as true learning or true rest. It keeps kids mentally \u2018on\u2019 without giving them structure or recovery, which is exactly where stress and burnout build.\u00a0\u00bb
Jarrod M. Leffler, Ph.D., chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychology at the Children\u2019s Hospital of Richmond at VCU in Richmond, Virginia, noted that virtual learning can have benefits if implemented well.
\u00ab\u00a0Pivoting to virtual learning during a snowstorm can provide consistency for the student and limit the potential of adding days onto the school year\u00a0\u00bb, he told Fox News Digital. \u00ab\u00a0For some youth, this may be a positive experience.\u00a0\u00bb
However, if the learning is not well-planned, supported and implemented, the switch to virtual could cause more stress for students and teachers, according to Leffler.
\u00ab\u00a0Also, depending on the intensity of the inclement weather, teachers may be left to manage life stressors not normally requiring attention while teaching, resulting in stress for the teacher, which can impact the learning experience\u00a0\u00bb, he said.
\u00ab\u00a0It is important to not place a high level of learning burden on the student to limit increasing stress and potentially impact emotional and behavioral functioning.\u00a0\u00bbTips for a safe, active snow day
For kids who do get the chance to enjoy an unplugged snow day, the doctors offered some simple tips to get the most out of it.
\u00ab\u00a0Stay warm, wear hats, gloves and coats \u2014 and if you get wet, go inside for a warm shower and a cup of hot chocolate\u00a0\u00bb, Siegel suggested.
\u00ab\u00a0These are some of my best memories from childhood, along with sledding down \u2018dead man\u2019s hill.\u2019\u00a0\u00bb
If being outdoors isn\u2019t an option due to extreme weather, Leffler suggested that children can engage in indoor activities that are also rewarding, enjoyable and creative.
\u00ab\u00a0It may be helpful for caregivers to help plan and\/or offer some options for indoor activities to help reduce potential stress and irritability if the child is required to stay indoors\u00a0\u00bb, he advised.<\/p>\n