Recess Affects Children's Behavior During Class

As recess improves social skills, it also improves children’s behavior during class. Recess improves a student’s social being in the classroom. When students are antsy and hard to control, it creates a negative vibe in the classroom, which is hard for any teacher to control. When students get a chance to run around and work out all the classroom stress, the time spent between the teacher and the student becomes more enjoyable. A classroom of children could include those of many different behavioral backgrounds. This normally includes those who deal with ADD/ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), sustained attention spans, and those who simply have no problem paying attention. Due to having such a mix of personalities in the classroom,

Whether it’s sharing a jump rope, or waiting your turn to ride the swing set, these simple manners are very important to learn at a young age. Recess gives children a chance to experience these behaviors, because it’s something they will need to carry with them for the rest of their lives. When these lessons are not learned early in life, they are going to have a hard time obtaining them in the future. It is important that teachers and teacher aids reward students for exhibiting simple good manners, and recognize those who do not. For some children, school is the only place they learn these values. Student’s home life affects their learning, and in some cases, their behavior and emotional

Over thirty years later, 45% of elementary school students across the nation receive little to no recess each day. Numbers started to increase in 2001, where an article of “No Child Left Behind” accelerated across the country. Since the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law took effect in 2002, it has had a sweeping impact on U.S. public school classrooms. It affects what students are taught, the tests they take, the training of their teachers and the way money is spent on education. in response to the No Child Left Behind act, nearly half of all school districts in the country have shifted large chunks of time to math and reading instruction in order to improve student test scores, and art, music, and recess are what’s being replaced. The Orange County school district in the state of Florida has eliminated recess at some elementary schools claiming that there is no time to spare for kids to have recess because of Common Core testing and other new standards. "A mandated 20 minute period is not appropriate for our schools at this point when teachers say they don't have enough time to get it done” (Superintendent Barbara Jenkins). The argument that more instructional time is needed to successfully accomplish the NCLB law is a major aspect as to why recess is steadily decreasing in elementary schools. The arguments against recess also involve safety issues. Lawsuits are feared from