Let The Children Play
Tessa Melquist
Western Governors University
Student ID #671279
Let The Children Play
So much of the school day is planned for our youth. Reading, writing, mathematics, art, music and many other curricula are jammed into an approximated seven-hour day. When a child has a tough time learning, or is causing problems amid the classroom, is the cause a developmental issue? Or perhaps that child simply needs a break from the books. Recess allows students time to shut the learning off, and unconsciously focus on necessary developmental skills. Research suggest that recess is beneficial for students because it allows them to engage in physical activity, build upon social-emotional skills, and increase their cognitive and academic performance.
Being that there are countless well-researched benefits of recess, schools should not remove the time allowed for a much-needed period out of the classroom. In 2013, the American Academy
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The fight against childhood obesity is another advantage to having recess. The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s. Today, about one in five school-aged children has obesity. (CDCP, 2017) There are many factors that contribute to childhood obesity, such as genetics, metabolism, eating and physical activity behaviors, and individual psychology. Also, schools, childcare settings, media, family, communities, all have an influence on children’s dietary and physical behaviors. (CDCP, 2017) It is so important for children to feel accepted and comfortable with who they are. Children that are obese, are more likely to be bullied and teased, making it difficult to have high self-esteem and not isolate themselves. Schools that are supporting recess time, are giving children an opportunity to be active and providing them tools to live a healthy lifestyle when at