Seeing children run around the playground or sports field on a scorching day may cause anxiety for parents worried about the dangers of heat-related illnesses. But a new Brock University research review could help put those fears to rest.

“For many, many years, the common belief was that children are a vulnerable population — which they are — and are therefore more vulnerable to heat injury if they exercise in the heat,” says Professor of Kinesiology Bareket Falk. “But there is no epidemiological data to show that, physiologically, this is the case.”

In their journal article, Falk and her team of Brock researchers reviewed 22 studies on children’s thermoregulation, or the ways bodies maintain a consistent core temperature of 37 C.

Systems regulating body temperature include an area of the brain called the hypothalamus, sweat glands, blood circulation and skin. If a person overheats, they may develop heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heatstroke, among other forms of hyperthermia.

The studies compared rates of sweating and skin blood flow — the volume of blood circulating to the skin — in children and adults.

Sweating regulates temperature by releasing moisture, which draws heat away from the body when the sweat evaporates.

Professor of Kinesiology Bareket Falk.

In hot conditions, blood vessels can also expand, increasing blood flow to the surface of the skin and releasing more heat from the body.

The research reviewed by the team shows children sweat less than adults. Since sweating is a key thermoregulation strategy, Falk says it was long assumed children would be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

But skin blood flow rate — the other key thermoregulation strategy — is higher in children.

“From a physiological perspective, there was no difference in the effectiveness of thermoregulation in children and adults,” says Falk. “The strategy was different: sweating rate was lower in children, but skin blood flow was higher, so children are not at a disadvantage.”

But there is still room for caution, Falk says.

While there are no physiological differences in how children’s and adults’ bodies thermoregulate, there may be behavioural differences in the way children and adults respond to heat.

Adult athletes running a marathon, for instance, know they must hydrate at drinking stations even if they’re not thirsty, Falk says. “But child athletes might not have the knowledge of hydration and the experience of dizziness and headaches that come with dehydration.”

Falk says the bottom line to avoid heat illnesses is to use “common sense.”

“If it’s not safe for the parents to exercise outside, it’s not safe for the children to do so either,” she says. “Make sure everyone stays hydrated.”

The team’s review findings are described in “Despite differences in heat dissipation, children’s temperature regulation during heat stress is similar to adults’ – a systematic review,” published February 2026 in the journal Temperature.

In addition to Falk, the team includes Professors of Kinesiology Panagiota Klentrou and Diane Mack and former graduate students Hina Ticknor (MSc ’25) and Stacey Woods (MSc ’18, PhD ’23).