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Hello, my name is Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer. I serve as an expert witness in playground injury lawsuits and have spent the last 15 years reviewing some of the most serious and preventable playground injuries affecting children today.

Before that, I served as an elementary school principal in Murrieta, California, where summer temperatures frequently exceeded 100 degrees. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with schools facing the challenge of balancing student safety with the need to preserve recess and outdoor play during periods of extreme heat.

Because of this concern, I have gathered research, developed resources, and created practical solutions to help schools keep children active while reducing heat-related risks. These resources include:

• Keeping Kids Cool in School
• Extreme Heat Is Cutting Into Recess for Kids. Experts Say It's a Problem
• Misters: A Cool Answer for Hot Playgrounds
• What you can do about Dangerously Hot Playgrounds
• Content Library: Inclement Weather
• 2 Go Games Rugs and other indoor recess solutions



One of my greatest concerns is the growing trend of removing blacktops and open play areas in response to heat. Research consistently shows that children spend the majority of their recess time on grass fields and blacktops, with some studies finding that nearly 89% of play occurs in these open spaces compared to only 11% on playground structures. Rather than eliminating the areas where children prefer to play, schools should consider solutions such as shade structures, cooling stations, and misters that allow students to remain active and engaged while staying safe.

My mission is to provide schools and youth programs with the knowledge, strategies, and tools they need to create safer play environments, preserve recess opportunities, and support healthy, active children.

When is it Too Hot for Recess: Keeping Kids Cool at School

By Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer

An Expert Witness in Playground Injury Cases

When is it too hot for recess?

As most of the nation head back to school facing triple-digit heat principals will begin to ask themselves, “When is it too hot for recess.?” In some parts of the nation schools face the challenges associated with outdoor recess and overheated classrooms. Principals and physical educators will face daily decisions regarding children’s heat-health and is it too hot for recess?

In this article, we will review some information regarding different playground challenges and solutions to those problems.

Of particular concern to schools is that “kids absorb more heat than adults while sweating less. The result is kids have a greater propensity for heat cramps, exhaustion or heat stroke”, according to Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer, also known as the Recess Doctor.

Recent years are bringing hotter summers and colder winters. Instead of eliminating recess, an alternative strategy is to bring it indoors with brain breaks like these recess indoor rugs. Including brain breaks and indoor recess is a new factor to include in every schools plan for keeping children active and giving mandatory recess minutes. These are now sometimes being referred to as Extreme Heat Action plans or Inclement Weather Action Plans. 

School districts continue to face multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements related to supervision failures, campus safety hazards, and preventable student injuries. Playground injuries remain one of the most common sources of school injury claims

Why Certified Playground Supervision Training is Essential

Certified playground supervision training is essential because schools are held to a “reasonably prudent” standard—and placing untrained adults in charge of student safety can be viewed as negligence. Trained supervisors actively scan, anticipate risks, and intervene before injuries occur, while untrained staff often miss hazards and supervise passively, increasing both injury risk and liability. Most importantly, documented training becomes a school’s primary defense in the event of an injury, demonstrating that proactive steps were taken to protect students.

ONLINE COURSE OPTIONS

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Early Childhood Active Supervision Training

Bullying Prevention Training

Grant Writing Course

Recess Before Lunch Training

Pedometer Walking Program Training

**NEW Course Bundle**

$2,250

How to Have A Peaceful Playground

Low Cost, High Activity Playground

Playground and Strategies for Improving Recess

A Program loved by all

Principals, Teachers, PE Teachers and After School Programs

A Better Way to Supervise and Safer Playgrounds for Every Child

Supervising a busy playground can be one of the most challenging parts of the school day. That’s where Peaceful Playgrounds makes a real difference. Our evidence-based program transforms unstructured recess into a more organized, engaging, and safer experience.

With clearly marked game zones, visual boundaries, and colorful stencils, children know where and how to play—reducing confusion, overcrowding, and conflicts. This structure not only supports positive student behavior, but also helps supervisors more easily identify and respond to potential issues before they escalate.

The result?

• Fewer playground injuries
• Dramatically reduced behavior referrals
• More confident and effective playground supervision'

Peaceful Playgrounds isn't just about play—it's about creating a safe, inclusive environment where every child has the chance to thrive.

The Peaceful Playgrounds Program is a nationally recognized and award-winning physical activity program touching nearly 4 million children annually for over 25+ years!

Created by an Educator like you!

Time to order the kit, paint your playground over summer, and be ready for the new year!

The recess program is low-cost, affordable, easy to implement and you can start now!

 Testimonial

“With no grass area and only blacktop space, Peaceful Playgrounds was what we needed!” says Marianne Hertzog of Thomas Jefferson Elementary, NY. Easy to paint, teach, and apply—this program gave students more to do during recess and PE, making playtime active, structured, and engaging.

Contact us. We can assist you with brochures, estimate and everything you need to get started today.

(951) 245-6970 or officestaff@peacefulplaygrounds.com

Recess is a right, not a reward.

Withholding play harms children’s ability to focus, self-regulate, and engage in class. Positive behavior systems work better than taking recess away.

10 Steps to a Peaceful Playground

Creating Safe, Active, Happy Playgrounds

 A How-To Guide For Playground Supervision

Playground supervision plays a critical role in keeping all kids safe at school.  Yet, only a small number of playground supervisors receive any training on their roles and responsibilities. It is not uncommon as a result of the lack of training injuries occur. But proactive supervision and planning can reduce the likelihood of an injury that results in the threat of a lawsuit because of inadequate playground supervision.

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