What AQI is safe for kids to play outside?

Children don't handle dirty air the way adults do. Kids' lungs are still developing, and they breathe more air relative to their body size than adults do.¹ That makes children more sensitive to air pollution than adults², so the line for bringing them in sits lower.

On a clean-air day, let them run. At Good or Moderate air quality, an AQI of 100 or below, it's a good day for kids to be active outside, though a child who is unusually sensitive may still get symptoms.²³ Once the AQI enters the orange band, 101 to 150, children should ease off prolonged or hard exertion, keeping play shorter and less intense with more breaks.²³⁴

Higher up the scale, bring the activity indoors. In the Unhealthy range, 151 to 200, move longer or harder play inside or put it off to another day.²³ By Very Unhealthy, 201 to 300, keep all outdoor activity indoors.²³ One timing trick helps on smoggy days. Ozone runs lower in the morning, so schedule a child's outdoor time earlier to cut their exposure.²⁴

If your child has asthma, keep their quick-relief inhaler handy and follow their asthma action plan whenever the air is poor.² This is a good time to review their plan, and double-check with their pediatrician to make sure it's up to date.