Importance Of Recess In Schools

Keep Recess in Our Schools Schools all across the country are considering cutting back or eliminating recess altogether, some already have. Within the school environment, there is a call for stricter standards and greater academic achievement as well as all for schools to provide time for no sedentary activities. External pressures, such as mandated standardized testing have led teachers to believe more academic time is needed in the classroom. Some teachers use denial of recess as a form of dealing with behavior, unfinished or late work of the students. The American Academy of Pediatrics holds a firm statement about the importance of recess. “… believes that recess is a crucial and necessary component of a child’s development and, as

Teachers can observe how children interact with each other. Children that spend a lot of their recess alone or not participating with their peers, may need to more observation from teachers. This can sometimes show a child that emotional issues or a deeper underling cause. Recess allow students to learn through hands-on experiences and exploratory play, which lead leads to overall cognitive development. Another good reason to keep recess in school is that it could help cut down on the childhood obesity rate. Having a daily opportunity for physical activity helps fight weight gain and teaches kids healthy habits form a young age. Lack of physical activity and lead to health concerns for adults and children. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children and adolescents engage in 60 minutes a day of physical activity each day. The American Academy of Pediatrics conducted a study that examined children 8 to 9 years of age. They broke the children into two catergories, the first set of students had no recess and the second had at least a 15-minute break. Teachers reported better classroom behavior scores for the students that had a break compared to the ones that didn’t have a break. Recess allows children time to release excess energy that builds up from sitting in the

During recess, students learn to resolve conflicts, solve problems, negotiate, and work with others without adult intervention. Cognitive abilities may also be enhanced by recess. Studies have found that students who do not participate in recess may have difficulty concentrating on specific tasks in the classroom, are restless and may be easily distracted. In addition, recess serves as a developmentally appropriate strategy for reducing stress. Contemporary society introduces significant pressure and stress for many students because of academic demands, family issues, and peer pressures. (NASPE, 2001) (Cook and Kohl, 2013, Chapter