Air Quality and Children: AQI Guidance for Parents and Schools

At a glance

What matters most

01
Children may be more susceptible to air pollution because their lungs are still developing and they often spend more time active outdoors.
02
The AQI is a practical starting point for planning outdoor play, sport and school activity, but local school and public-health guidance takes priority.
03
Short, lower-intensity activity and cleaner indoor options can often preserve routine when conditions are poor.
04
Children with asthma or another heart or lung condition should follow their clinician-provided action plan.

Why children need specific guidance

Children are not simply smaller adults. Their lungs and other organ systems are still developing, and outdoor play, walking to school and sport can increase exposure when pollution is high. Children also have less control over where and how long they are exposed, which is why air-quality planning belongs in family and school routines.

This does not mean children should avoid outdoor activity whenever AQI is imperfect. AQI guidance is designed to help adults change the duration, intensity, timing or location of activity as conditions worsen. It is general public-health information, not a diagnosis or replacement for a child’s own care plan.

Plan play, school and sport with the AQI

US AQI	Practical approach for children
0–100	Usual play and school activity are generally appropriate; children who are unusually sensitive can watch for symptoms.
101–150	Short activities such as recess may still be possible; reduce the intensity and add breaks for longer PE, practice or outdoor play, especially for sensitive children.
151–200	Move prolonged or vigorous activity indoors where practical; reduce time outside and follow the school or local authority’s policy.
201–300	Avoid prolonged or vigorous outdoor activity and use a cleaner indoor option where possible.
301–500	Keep children in cleaner indoor air where possible and follow official local instructions.

Make the day lower exposure

Check the current AQI and forecast before school, outdoor play, training or a long commute.
Choose shorter, easier or indoor activities when AQI rises instead of cancelling all movement by default.
Avoid idling vehicles near school entrances and choose lower-traffic walking routes where practical.
Use indoor spaces with cleaner air for longer activities during smoke or severe haze.
At home, reduce indoor particle sources such as smoke, incense, candles and high-smoke cooking, especially during outdoor pollution episodes.

Asthma, symptoms and smoke events

For a child with asthma, another lung condition or heart disease, a clinician-provided action plan should guide decisions. Keep prescribed medicines and contact details available, and ask the child’s clinician or school health professional how to adapt activity when air quality is poor.

During wildfire smoke, do not rely on adult-sized particle respirators for children: fit is difficult and they are not designed to fit children reliably. The priority is usually cleaner indoor air, less time outside and following local public-health guidance.

When to seek medical help

Seek urgent medical help if a child has severe trouble breathing, blue or grey lips or face, chest pain, confusion, fainting, or other emergency symptoms. For worsening cough, wheeze, shortness of breath or asthma symptoms, follow the child’s action plan and contact a healthcare professional as appropriate.

An AQI reading cannot tell you whether a child is ill. It describes outdoor conditions for a location and time; symptoms and existing health conditions need individual attention.

Frequently asked questions

Should children stay indoors when AQI is above 100?

Not always. At US AQI 101–150, short outdoor activity may still be possible, while longer or vigorous activities can be made easier, shorter or moved indoors—especially for children who are sensitive to air pollution. Follow local school guidance and a child’s care plan.

Can children wear N95 masks for smoke?

Do not rely on adult-sized N95 or other particle respirators for children because they are not designed to fit children reliably. During smoke, cleaner indoor air and reduced outdoor exposure are the main protective steps; follow local public-health guidance.

What should a school do on a poor-air day?

Schools should use current AQI and their local policy to modify longer or vigorous outdoor activity, add breaks, make indoor alternatives available and support students with asthma or other conditions according to their care plans.

Primary sources

This reference was prepared from the following primary public-health and regulatory sources:

Air Quality and Children: Practical Guidance for Parents and Schools