With the emphasis on assessment these days, it is nearly impossible for teachers to meet all of their curriculum requirements in a single day. So things like free play, hands-on learning, and yes, recess for kids are being cut out.
This is what happens in most schools that do not even have standards to guarantee recess time. As schools increasingly cut recess, teachers are seeing how counterproductive this move is. We see our children move. We notice when they start ignoring us. And we know that doesn't help the test scores.
A study based on more than two million school tests concluded that results improved significantly when exams were taken immediately after recess. Additionally, the LiiNK study mimicked practices in Finland by giving children four 15-minute breaks a day. The results show that off-task behaviors decreased by 25%, concentration improved by 30%, and reading and math scores also increased.
This makes perfect sense because students are enjoying a brain break. Recess should be part of the school day. Students focus more on assessment or lessons after this slack period.
Recess develops social-emotional skills .
Elementary school playtime provides students with some of their first opportunities to learn and practice social skills, such as sharing, trading, giving and trading, and just getting along with others. Students discuss and find solutions to problems. They learn to control their emotions. They have eye-to-eye interactions without the temptation of a digital device.
Recess gives kids much-needed vitamin D.
The American Academy of Pediatrics tells us that vitamin D, which we can all get naturally from the sun, is really important. Additionally, academic learning, productivity, stress reduction, heart health, and a reduced risk of diabetes are all linked to sun exposure.
Children need vitamin D as much as adults, and they can get it during recess. Even in winter, especially in winter, it is important to carry out reconstruction. Bad weather shouldn't affect recess unless it's really bad outside. The kids won't care. They just need to dress up, get some fresh air, and experience the outdoors. After all, it's good for their health. (It's good for a teacher's health, too!)
Students behave better in class with more recess.
We don't need research to tell us that children need to move around during the day. Teachers know their students. When students work too long, we see the symptoms. The children begin to fall from their chairs. They start throwing away crayons and crayons for no reason. They do the Fortnite dances.
We know it, that's all.
After recess, the students settle down and are calmer. They remember to raise their hands and not let go of the answers. They use their inner voice. They sit crossing applesauce. When students miss recess or it is cut short, teachers notice.
Recess reduces stress and anxiety.
Stress and anxiety in children are on the rise. The National Child Health Survey tells us that anxiety alone increased by 20%. One researcher, Dr. Peter Gray, studied the link between playtime and mental health in children, and the results were clear. Recess is important.
It might seem a bit of a stretch to link playtime and children's mental health, but it's not. Recess is a very real and positive benefit.
Amazing imagination and creativity are manifested during playtime.
PE classes are important, but they don't have the same type of unstructured play as recess. When outdoors, students are free to let their imaginations run wild, and teachers see the creative results and benefits every day.
Recess helps boost morale at school.
Teachers are frustrated and underpaid, and many are considering leaving the profession. We need to mend and build some relationships, and one of the ways to do that is to trust your teachers by trusting them when they say their students need things like recess.
There is no doubt that it is possible to boost morale in all schools. Teachers, parents and students all know that recess is a good thing. Schools must keep their promises. It would make everyone happier overall.
Playtime helps develop fine motor skills and gross motor skills.
Students are spending more time indoors when at home and at school. In many cases, time spent on iPads and tablets replaces time spent biking, playing hide-and-seek, and exploring the outdoors.
Students often lack strong gross and fine motor skills, such as being able to cut in a straight line, grasp a pencil, or catch a ball. If we could replace some of that screen cleaning time with a break, think what might happen. Blacktop games like hopscotch, chalk drawing, and square of four are all easy and inexpensive ways to practice fine and gross motor skills.
All we need now is the break minutes
Recess encourages children to be physically fit.
Childhood obesity rates have doubled since the 1970s. Sedentary lifestyles, driven by a digital world, have led to overall poor physical fitness. Physical fitness and academic achievement are linked. Children who were more physically active tended to learn vocabulary faster and perform better on tests.
Recess is the perfect time to indulge in enjoyable physical activity. It is important for children to establish a positive association between fun and exercise early on. This can play an important role in developing good lifestyle habits.
Recreation allows children to discover nature.
Children are more often indoors. They are not out exploring the woods on their own or spending hours outdoors with the neighborhood kids.
Young children love small insects, flowers, trees and soil. They even love spiders, although they mostly admire them from afar. Exploring nature is a very important time in childhood, and children can explore so many wonders of nature during playtime.
Let's all demand more recess.
Today's modern problems do not always require modern solutions. Recreation and play have been around forever, and the research couldn't be clearer.
If you are a teacher in a school with little or no recess, ask for more time. Go to school board meetings and show them the facts. If you are a teacher looking for your first or new job, check with the prospective school about its recess policies before accepting the position.
As teachers, we should not be afraid to stand up for what we believe. We are all in this situation for the sake of our children, and the facts speak for themselves. We need more break minutes, not less. Now let's get it.
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