New York City’s mayor has said there will be no traditional snow days as a big winter storm moves in, setting up a fight between practical concerns and the old-school benefits of an unplugged day off. A decision on whether kids will learn remotely or in person will come by Sunday at noon, while doctors and child experts urge that real downtime and outdoor play matter for young people’s health. This piece lays out the forecast, the mayor’s stance, the experts’ views and simple safety advice families can use if kids do get time to play in the snow.
A heavy storm is forecast to arrive Sunday and push into Monday, with forecasts calling for as much as 8 to 12 inches of snow and bone-chilling temperatures. City services and parents are bracing for tricky commutes and frozen pipes, and many households are already thinking through childcare and work plans. The weather threat has pushed school operations into the spotlight ahead of the weekend.
At a Friday weather briefing the mayor said the final call between in-person and remote learning will be announced by Sunday at noon. “I have to apologize to the students that were hoping for a different answer for a traditional snow day,” he said. “That will not be the case.”
Medical professionals immediately weighed in, arguing that a true snow day still has value beyond convenience. “From a mental health standpoint, the old-school, unplugged snow day is actually very healthy for kids,” Jonathan Alpert, a New York City and Washington, D.C.-based psychotherapist and author, said. “Sometimes the healthiest message we can send kids is simple: ‘Today, go outside and have fun.’”
Alpert cautions that these days off are not just fun but restorative, and they ought not to be dismissed as wasted time. Snow days shouldn’t be seen as “lost time,” Alpert added. They help regulate the nervous system, improve mood and allow kids to return to school more focused and refreshed.
He also points out the physical upside of genuine outdoor play when weather permits. “An occasional snow day gives kids something they rarely get now: old-fashioned outdoor fun,” he said. Sledding, snowball fights and building forts give kids movement and sensory experiences that screens cannot replace.
On screens specifically, Alpert is blunt about limits. “Children don’t need more screen time,” he added. “They need movement, fresh air, unstructured play and permission to unplug.”
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel echoed the benefits of unstructured time for both mind and body. “I love the idea of an old-fashioned snow day for mental and physical health — 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,” he said. Those small moments matter for building memory and community.
Psychiatrist Kathryn L. Jones stresses how modern schedules and devices have boxed kids into constant programming and passive rest. “Children and teens are so highly programmed with extracurriculars — 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,” she said. She argues snow days can reintroduce the bodily joy of play.
“With so much external and internal pressure to grow up faster, we end up with kids who become adults who have forgotten how to play,” Jones went on. “There is such a kinesthetic pleasure in playing outside in the snow, to notice textures, temperatures, all senses activated and engaged.” Those sensory experiences feed development in ways passive screen time does not.
Jones also argues the tradition carries lessons that go beyond recreation. She believes the snow day deserves more respect and room for reflection. “For the lessons learned about nature, the world around us and our own internal landscapes, the snow day is worthwhile.”
There is also a skeptical view of lockdown-era remote learning that many Republicans and parents still cite. “We already ran the experiment of replacing real life with remote learning during the pandemic, and the results were clear,” Alpert said. “Zoom school doesn’t function as true learning or true rest. It keeps kids mentally ‘on’ without giving them structure or recovery, which is exactly where stress and burnout build.”
Still, experts acknowledge virtual options can be useful when planned well and supported. “Pivoting to virtual learning during a snowstorm can provide consistency for the student and limit the potential of adding days onto the school year,” Jarrod M. Leffler, Ph.D., said. “For some youth, this may be a positive experience.”
Leffler warns the switch to screens needs good planning or it will create extra strain for families and teachers. “Also, 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,” he said. “It 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.”
For families who do get a true snow day, practical tips can keep it safe and memorable. “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 memories from childhood, along with sledding down ‘dead man’s hill.’”
If weather makes outdoor play unsafe, Leffler recommends having indoor options ready to ease cabin fever. “It 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,” he advised. Thoughtful plans can turn a forced indoor day into a calm, creative pause instead of a stressful scramble.
