At Dimondale Elementary School Friday, recess was still held outside. A couple of degrees colder and the kids would have been inside per school policy. This as dangerously cold weather moves into the area.

Recess Supervisor Lynette Forbis says they monitor the temperature and wind chill to determine if the kids will be playing out or in. Parents are asked to dress their children appropriately during cold, winter weather.

"It's a constant battle," says Terry Baker, Principal at Lansing's Fairview Elementary School. Kids coming to school not dressed properly is an everyday occurrence, but warm apparel donations from churches and charities help Baker says.

Pets should be prepared too. Keeping them inside is the best bet, but if they must be outdoors, keep them in a properly sized, warm structure. Outfit the structure with straw; it helps keep the moisture out. Cats should be kept indoors as they tend to hide in dangerous places, like under car hoods, when it’s cold.

If you do keep your dog outside, don't have a warm, safe place for him and you get caught, you could get fined $1,000 or even be sentenced to jail. The law applies when the outdoor temperature is or is predicted to drop below freezing.