11 Benefits of Recess in Elementary Schools
- Increased Focus - Teachers at schools where recess was mandated reported a significant increase in their students' ability to focus.
- Fewer Disciplinary Problems - They also report fewer disciplinary problems after kids are able to get out and play!
- Increased Engagement - Kids are more engaged in the learning process after physical activity.
- Increasing their level of physical activity.
- Improving their memory, attention, and concentration.
- Helping them stay on-task in the classroom.
- Reducing disruptive behavior in the classroom.
- Improving their social and emotional development (e.g., learning how to share and negotiate).
Why we should have a longer recess?
- Ask for help. …
- Consider possible triggers. …
- Take a kind but firm approach. …
- Give clear and consistent messages. …
- Set clear routines on days off school. …
- Engage the system.
What are the benefits of having longer recess?
- CDC Ideas for Parents: Recess pdf icon [PDF – 1 MB]
- CDC and SHAPE America: Recess Planning in Schools: A Guide to Putting Strategies for Recess into Practice (2017) pdf icon [PDF – 1.9 MB]
- Playworks Game Guide external icon
- Playworks Playbook external icon
- Playworks Recess Lab external icon
Why extra recess is bad?
“Some devalue recess because they assume it to be — as they assume play in young children to be — a waste of time, time that could be otherwise more efficiently spent,” Anthony Pellegrini, former professor of educational psychology at the University of Minnesota, wrote in a 2008 paper.
Why recess is not needed?
“Recess” provides a break from instructional activities, but it’s lack of structure is not always most developmentally appropriate for our youngest students.
How does recess help students?
Studies have found that recess benefits students by improving their memory and attention, helping them stay on topic in class, reducing their disruptive behavior, and improving their social development, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How does recess improve behavior?
In addition to physical benefits, recess and free play offer many social and emotional benefits for children. Recess and unstructured play allow children to practise important skills such as communication, prosocial behaviour, sharing, problem solving, self-regu- lation and negotiation (Golinkoff et al.
Is recess good for your brain?
What is this? The physical activity and social connection that take place at recess help children's brains work and develop properly by lowering their levels of stress, regulating their nervous system and allowing them to be more engaged once back in the classroom.
How can recess improve social skills?
Recess helps children learn social skills that will guide them through the rest of their lives....The Social Benefits of RecessLeadership.Cooperation.Compromise.Sharing.Conflict resolution.Problem-solving.Coping skills.Negotiation.More items...•
Is more recess better for students?
Research shows schools with more recess have happier, smarter, friendlier and more focused students. It has been proven that recess is critical for a child's social, emotional, and cognitive development. Now research is actually showing how schools with more recess have happier, smarter, and more focused students.
Should we have recess?
1) Recess is important because it serves as a necessary break from the rigors of concentrated, academic challenges in the classroom. It also offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits that may not be fully appreciated when a decision is made to diminish it.
Why is recess called recess?
Recess comes from the Latin word recessus, meaning "a going back, retreat." You may have heard children talking about recess as their favorite part of school. This meaning of the word refers to the break in a school day for children to play, usually outside in a playground.
Why is recess important for kids?
Recess offers kids the chance to move their bodies and get closer to their 60 minutes of physical activity, thus making it less likely that they’ll struggle with obesity.
Why is recess time important?
“Recess time gives more opportunity for socialization, teamwork and practice with conflict-resolution skills, ” Conti says. Asking other kids to play, explaining the rules of a complex game and hashing out disputes are all important life lessons that kids can only learn if they’re given time to play.
Why are schools cutting recess?
School districts across the United States are cutting recess to make more time for structured classroom learning. On the surface, this may seem like a good idea. What’s wrong with giving kids more time to learn? But cutting recess and playtime may actually do more harm than good.
What is the goal of Common Core?
The goal was to standardize student achievement in math, literacy and language arts—and it bases student achievement on a series of mandatory tests. Much like the NCLB, Common Core relies on standardized test scores to gauge student performance—and those scores can influence school funding.
Is outdoor recess good for health?
“Outdoor recess also gives the benefit of experiencing fresh air and sunshine, both noted for increasing overall health and mood,” Conti says. Sunlight is also a key source of vitamin D, which increases learning and productivity.
A 3rd Grade-Eye View of Recess in School
Dr. Hynes’ appreciation for recess in school began a few years ago, when he started “shadowing” his students.
The Benefits of Recess
In bringing this change to the district, Dr. Hynes was thinking about more than kickball. “If you focus on the health and wellness of the kids, a natural by-product will be achievement.”
Community Support for Recess in School
Dr Hynes fascination with recess has not been a solo crusade. In fact, recess in school was not really a passion until he realized how badly his district needed it.
The Academic Benefits of Recess in School
Even with community support for student well-being, Dr. Hynes recognized the importance of studying the connection between his initiative and academic outcomes.
Sharing the Benefits of Recess in School
Dr. Hynes is happy to share what has worked in Patchogue-Medford with anyone who’ll listen. “Email me, and I’ll give you a road map. Seriously. I’ve spoken to every school board member, every superintendent who is looking to move in that direction. Because I think the process is just as important as whatever you’re trying to implement.”
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Why is recess important for children?
Recess provides children with the opportunity to exert energy in a healthy way.
What is the role of recess in school?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued the policy statement “The Crucial Role of Recess in School” to make recommendations to schools, and its stance is unequivocal: “Recess offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits that may not be fully appreciated when a decision is made to diminish it.
Why is it important to take breaks for children?
For young children, who tend not to process information as well as older children, taking breaks for unstructured play is critical in increasing focus and attention .
Is recess a physical activity?
Brain research has shown that the brain is activated during physical activity, much more so than during sedentary times. Despite these positive benefits of recess, studies show that many schools (40% nationwide) have cut back recess programs or eliminated recess altogether.
The Benefits of Free, Unstructured Play Time
A 2009 study from a group of researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York showed that, compared to those who have minimal or no recess time, elementary school children who have free time during the day receive higher ratings from teachers on their classroom behavior.
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Why is recess important in school?
School recess offers benefits to student well-being, Stanford educator reports. A Stanford study shows that recess is a profoundly important part of the school day. Well-organized recess programs engage students in meaningful play and prepare them to learn once back in the classroom. Stanford research published in the “Journal ...
Is recess a time for kids?
Adults are integral to a well-rounded recess experience, McLaughlin said. “Recess seems like a time for kids to get some exercise or just have fun, but unless there are adults actively paying attention to and supporting a high-quality recess, it can be a time when kids feel unsafe, physically and emotionally,” she said.
Is recess a part of school climate?
In an interview, McLaughlin said, “Recess isn’t normally considered part of school climate, and often is shortchanged in tight fiscal times, but our research shows that can be a critical contributor to positive school climate in low-income elementary schools.”.
Is recess good for schools?
In fact, recess can yield numerous benefits to an elementary school’s overall climate, said Milbrey McLaughlin, the David Jacks Professor of Education and Public Policy, Emerita, founding director of Stanford’s John W. Gardner Center, and a co-author of the journal article. “Positive school climate has been linked to a host ...
Why is recess important for children?
Recess helps children learn social skills that will guide them through the rest of their lives. Since recess is often unstructured and peer-to-peer communication isn’t monitored, it gives a child the chance to experience social interaction and learn to handle situations that come their way.
How does recess help kids?
Recess helps children become well-rounded individuals, some of the benefits include: Encouraging social interaction. Improving focus. Reducing disruptions in the classroom. Getting kids physically active.
What are the skills that children learn during recess?
This means the unstructured play of recess makes an ideal environment for children to learn socialization and real communication. Through play, children’s brains begin to make connections that adults cannot teach. Some of the valuable communication and social skills learned during recess include: Leadership. Cooperation.
Why do children need recess?
Recess helps children become well-rounded individuals benefitting every aspect of their growth and development — social, cognitive, physical and behavioral.
Why is it important to take breaks in the workplace?
In fact, studies have shown that these periods of rest help adults better retain information, improve productivity and allow us to learn new concepts faster. Children enjoy the same benefits from unstructured breaks in their school day.
Why is recess time important?
Recess time has been championed as a way to help combat the nation’s childhood obesity problem. Studies also have shown that the free-play that comes with recess is crucial to a child’s cognitive, social and emotional development.
How long is recess in Dallas?
In Dallas, DISD trustees on Thursday approved 20 minutes of mandatory recess for elementary school students for the rest of the school year. Starting next school year, the requirement increases to at least 30 minutes of daily recess.
Did Christie pocket veto the recess bill?
On Jan. 19, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie pocket vetoed the recess bill, which means he left the bill to die through inaction. The state legislation cannot override a pocket veto.
Physical Activity and Learning
The Push to Reinstate Recess in Schools
- The benefits of recess are clear—from better memory and brain function to lifelong conflict resolution skills. However, schools cut back on recess time or discontinued it completely when the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 was passed. This federal legislation focused on raising the test scores of students across the country, so schools fit in as much instruction during the scho…
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