Kids Worst Nightmares

Kid’s Worst Nightmare

The worst nightmare for a child in elementary school is to hear his/her teacher say they will have no recess. Most children look forward to recess every day and some could even play everyday all day if they could. It is a time for them to let off all the stress that has built up from school work, and a time for them to be themselves. The council on Physical Education for Children agree that recess is a necessity, they state that “Recess is a time that gives children opportunities to engage in physical activity, to developing, healthy bodies which in return would create healthy minds and bodies that would be capable for learning” (COPEC, 2001). Recess is needed in all schools because it is healthy for all children, it improves social skills with one another, and it revitalizes the children.

Recess is an important part of child development in Elementary Schools because it allows the children to get the necessary exercises they need, which is healthy for all children. Due to some parents’ work loads, community violence, and safety issues some children are unable to play freely. As a result of these issues, children are leaning more towards watching television, playing video games and other inactive activities that endanger their health (Jarrett, 2003). Therefore, children are at high risk for early signs of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Recess is a way that Elementary schools help prevent health issues in some children’s lives. It also serves as a developmentally appropriate strategy for reducing stress. Olga S. Jarrett did a study on recess, she stated that “Recess allows children to be active which will make the child more assertive and able to focus on their class work when he/she starts on it” (Jarrett, 2003). Jarrett also study how recess works with the brain and she concludes that “Recess involves that valuable, unstructured downtime, that research says is crucial for recycling brain chemicals that formulate long term memory” (Jarrett, 2003). During play, children breathe in oxygen which helps fuel their brains, creating more connections between neurons. This helps their brain to process information, and leads to better grades. Recess also helps with the development of children’s social skills and in the long run, being an adult in society.

While children play, they are still learning; they are learning life-long skills that will help them as adults. Skills such as working together, resolving conflicts, motor skills, and cognitive abilities are being taught.