No wonder the teacher looked at me like I was nuts. I actually asked her if the kids were going outside for recess, considering how cold it was that day. She shook her head yes, like "Yes, and please don't ask if they can stay inside."
Hmph.
Turns out, according to a study published in Pediatrics, school children who receive more recess behave better and are likely to learn more. In fact, a break of just 15 minutes or more during school hours may play a role in improving learning, social development, and health in elementary school children.
The study looked at data on approximately 11,000 third-graders. (Can you imagine?!) The children, ages 8 to 9, and were divided into two categories: those with no or minimal recess (less than 15 minutes a day) and those with more than 15 minutes a day. There were an equal number of boys and girls. The children’s classroom behavior was assessed by their teachers using a questionnaire.
They found that free, unstructured play is essential for keeping children healthy, and for helping them reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones. Unstructured play also helps kids manage stress and become resilient.
I think all of that means when they come back inside they calm their butts down. Now I know never to ask silly questions.
Do your kids have recess everyday?
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Comments 8
Maybe smarter isn't the correct word. Its more along the lines of it helps them regain their focuse. Kids minds aren't meant to sit for hours at a time, they need stimulation, and recess in particular. Any of you know, a kid who doesn't get the chance to channel all that excess energy will be bouncing off the walls. They need recess. Then again thats just too much for our school systems (rolls eyes.) School systems that decided k-5 didn't need naps anymore and that first graders should be able to write a one page essay. NO kid left behind needs to be left behind.
I don't agree it makes them smarter it just that recess gives the kids a break from all that work bouncing around in their heads so that they can go back to class with a clear head to organize their thinking better to their advantage. No recess will cause kids to freeze up in thier thinking, like the old saying goes "All work & no Play makes a dull boy" or in laymen words can cause stress, unhappy feelings, restlessness and more likely to give up & not care about the important things in life. Which causes bad attitude! We all need a break every now & then don't matter if you're a kid or an adult!
I think smarter is an accurate way. If it is looked at in a cause and effect way. When someone is tired or bored they won't process information the same way if they are more alert. When the child has recess it shakes off the doldrums and ups his energy level again. When he comes back in he is ready to hit the books again. He can process that information so much better.
If you look at middle school...the classes in the afternoon that are tough classes will see lower grades for their students than if those same students have the class in the morning.
Okay, I saw another article on this and all I could say is "No kidding? Recess helps kids do better in school? You mean if they get exercise they aren't antsy in class?"
Did we really need a study to tell us this?
someone needs to tell that to my sons teacher cause she does not take them out they work though it.
Of course they do better in school. Even adults need to take breaks.
I wish mine could go out and get out some of there excess energy. I teach 6th grade and that is the first year in my district where recess is no longer an option. I think it would help their concentration levels!
Great post! Recess is VERY important!
A healthy lifestyle is something that a person should develop at a young age. It’s important for kids to play outdoors on a daily basis to improve physical development. In the last two decades, school recess has decreased causing more kids to have fewer physical activities at school. Our kid's physical activity time is shrinking!
It's very hard to discount the value of recess and that's why Dannon® Danimals® created “Rally for Recess”!
“Rally for Recess” is designed to create healthy competition, pitting school against school! Five schools have the opportunity to win new playground equipment and an all-day recess celebration. Danimals is committed to childhood health and wellness, which starts with good nutrition and an active lifestyle. Through February 8, 2012 purchasers can find codes on Danimals packaging to enter and register. The top five schools in each of the categories with the most codes registered wins!
We recently started this campaign at the social media marketing company I work for, Check out the website for Rally For Recess here:
http://www.RallyforRecess.com