Why recess is important in elementary school

Independent Learning - Teachers also report that students are more likely to learn and problem solve independently. Recess offers children the opportunity to play creatively and be independent. It automatically encourages independent learning and develops problem-solving skills in them.

Increased Confidence - Recess helps improve academic and social skills, as well as less "getting in trouble" which can drastically increase a child's confidence. During recess, children can build self-confidence by experimenting with their skills, taking risks, using their imaginations and adapting to different environments. Noticeable Shift in Following Directions - Paying attention and following directions in class can be a challenge for some elementary students, but teachers report a noticeable difference when children are given ample recess.

Especially after recess, students tend to be more attentive and better able to perform cognitively. Outdoor activities make the child more attentive and, therefore, more productive in the classroom, this is because recess time gives them a break from the structured classroom environment. Natural Sunlight - Exposure to sunlight is essential for maintaining healthy vitamin D levels in children.

Some studies have also reported that vitamin D is good for brain development, especially during the growing years. Recess provides exposure to natural sunlight that can increase mood and overall health. Exposure to sunlight is believed to increase the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin, associated with boosting mood and helping a child feel calm and focused.

Increased Focus - Teachers at schools where recess was mandated have reported a significant increase in their students' ability to focus. Adding more recess has a positive impact on academic achievements as students were found to listen better after recess and be more focused in class. Some studies have shown that the quality of recess plays a huge factor in overall benefits as well. A planned recess program can engage students in meaningful play and prepare them to learn once back in the classroom.

An interesting study from Stanford discusses the importance of well-organized recess and the benefits of meaningful play. New brain research is drawing clear links between physical activity and learning. Coaches are setting up new games on playgrounds to make recess run more smoothly.

And parents like Torres are banding together with teachers to change policies to bring recess back. The call on recess — to have it, or not, and for how long — is often a local school decision.

About 11 percent of states and 57 percent of districts require elementary schools to provide students with regularly scheduled recess, a study by the Centers for Disease Control in shows. This is up from 4 percent of states and 46 percent of districts in Although not mandated, 79 percent of elementary schools in the CDC survey said they provided daily recess.

In , it was 71 percent. Alarmingly, say recess proponents, about two thirds of principals report taking away recess as punishment for behavior problems or not finishing work, according to " The State of Play " survey by Gallup for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Recess has taken the hardest hit in urban areas. You are less likely to get recess if you are African-American 39 percent don't have recess, compared to 15 percent of whites , living below the poverty line 44 percent of poor children don't have recess versus 17 percent of others , or struggling academically 25 percent of kids who scored below the mean on a standardized test versus 15 percent of those above did not have recess , according to research in a issue of Teachers College Record.

In Chicago, about 40 percent of the public elementary schools have scheduled recess — with each school making its own decision. Nationwide, principals report that 89 percent of discipline-related problems occur at recess or lunch. One in five principals says the annual yearly progress requirements of NCLB have led to a decrease in recess, according to "The State of Play" survey. The focus is not on the well-rounded student. While the Chicago district encourages recess, it does not support a state mandate, like the one being pushed by Torres and other community members who are hoping the state legislature will form a task force to iron out a recess policy.

The ultimate goal in many states is to pass legislation so recess could not be eliminated by individual schools, says Melinda Bossenmeyer, founder of Peaceful Playgrounds, a company in Lake Elsinore, California, that trains educators and paints games on blacktops to encourage positive play. Research showing the benefits of recess helped first-grade teacher Melissa Gerry get 15 minutes a day of "unstructured learning time" at Idlewood Elementary School in Tucker, Georgia.

Now the county has such a mandate for recess at all of its elementary schools. No longer do the teachers need to "be sneaky or creative," taking kids on a long walk back from lunch to try to squeeze in some activity, says Gerry.

It gives them that time to look forward to every day. Free time to relax and be kids. To help her make her case, Gerry invited her former professor, Georgia State's Olga Jarrett, to speak at a faculty meeting.

Indeed, no research supports the notion that test scores go up by keeping children in the classroom longer, but there is plenty of evidence that recess benefits children in cognitive, social-emotional, and physical ways. Research shows that when children have recess, they gain the following benefits:. Jarrett maintains that recess has benefits over gym class. The supporters of recess are many. NASPE recommends elementary school children have at least 20 minutes of recess daily.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Education and Community-Based Programs. Healthy People Melinda Bossenmeyer 1 Recess is important because it serves as a necessary break from the rigors of concentrated, academic challenges in the classroom.

Cognitive Benefits 2 Several studies demonstrate that recess, whether performed indoors or outdoors, made children more attentive and more productive in the classroom Jarrett, O. Social and Emotional Benefits 4 Children gain the opportunity to practice social skills and role-play with peers. Peaceful Playgrounds research-based recess program. Recess Program. How did you hear about Peaceful Playgrounds?