Benefits Of Recess

Recess: To Be or Not To Be? “More than 40 percent of school districts across the country, … have done away with recess or are considering it” (Mulrine). This is a ridiculously high number when considering all the benefits that recess has on young children. Children develop and improve so many basic skills, as well as just simply getting a brain break. Educators, however, believe they need more time in the classroom in order to learn more information. What they need may be just the opposite. Researchers of Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found, “ ‘Recess may play an important role in the learning, social development, and the health of children’ “ (“Let Them Play”). Specifically, fourth grade students and younger should be required

With the rise in popularity of easily accessible technology, young children have a serious deficiency of physical activity. Recess is one way that these students can receive the physical activity that they may not be getting at any other time. Dr. Murray, a pediatrician, “supports [recess] for many reasons, including physical fitness, which is important when childhood obesity is so common” (Gormly). Physical activity is not the only aspect of physical health that is improved by recess. Children need a healthy way to burn energy outside of the classroom instead of inside it (Youker). Children need to exercise for physical health, to burn energy, and to give their brain a break. Recess is a way to get all of these in one. Why should it be taken away from those who need it most? Recess gives physical benefits to children, and these physical benefits will give way to social benefits as

These include better behaviors in the children, learning to play and interact with other children, and learning to play by the rules. A group of doctors found in a study of over 10,000 elementary students, that children with at least 15 minutes of recess time are more well behaved than students who did not receive a break (“Let Them Play”). 15 minutes is a small amount for educators to pay in order to receive more well-behaved students. Dr. Murray states, “This is what makes the child into a functioning adult: It’s the opportunity to work with other [children] and learn to get along” (Gormly). Children need to learn how to grow and work together because they will be required to get along and work together in the workforce. Recess also requires children to learn how to get along and abide by the rules when playing “rules-based games” along with other children (Gormly). Children’s abilities to follow rules and get along with classmates would only improve classroom