Why Elementary Schools should have recess

565 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of extracurricular activities (sports) on academic performance

If children were asked what their favorite part of the school day is, the majority would answer: recess. Why is this? Is it because recess helps them let off steam, or perhaps to help them settle disputes with other kids. Even though kids love it, elementary schools are starting to remove recess from the daily schedule. School boards believe recess has no value, besides giving youngsters a break. However, scientists have discovered recess helps kids focus better in class, as well as, preventing obesity. Children have an attention span of only twenty minutes. How could they possibly pay attention for seven hours a day with no recess in between? In addition to that, children are not accustomed to physical activity outside of school, so therefore, how are they supposed to stay healthy? With these two counterarguments towards the dismissal of recess, why do elementary schools still refuse to have recess? Because it is proven to help children focus on schoolwork and prevent obesity, all elementary schools should have recess.
SOLUTION
Putting recess back into elementary schools is simple; adding a mere thirty minutes to

Hackman 2 the school day. Children at this age need no more than a half hour of play time during school, otherwise they will tire themselves to the point of fatigue. This will not only help the kids catch a break, but the adults as well. Some teachers require a breath of fresh air when teaching screaming, immature, and boisterous kids. The best way to add this thirty minutes of free time is to split it into two fifteen minute recesses. This way the kids can look forward to the beginning and end of the school day.
HOW PROPOSAL FIXES PROBLEM
The problem with recalling recess in elementary schools is that kids will c...

... middle of paper ...

...t interesting stories. One story in
Kayne, Tela. "Recess Helps Students Do Better in School." MNN. Mother Nature Network, 19 Oct. 2012. Web. 17 Dec. 2013. .
Parker-Pope, Tara. "School Recess Improves Behavior." Well School Recess Improves Behavior Comments. The New York Times, 28 Jan. 2009. Web. 19 Dec. 2013. .
Rochman, Bonnie. "Yay for Recess." Time. Time, 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Dec. 2013. .

"Should Middle and High Schools Have Recess?" The Premier Online Debate Website. Debate.org, 2013. Web. 19 Dec. 2013. .

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Annotated Bibliography For Recess

    1551 Words  | 4 Pages

    With an increasing demand for higher standardized testing scores, schools are finding themselves in a tough position. The huge question being asked is how do we create more time for students to learn common core. The simple answer is, we don’t! Incorporating more time for recess is the key to success for students everywhere. Many researchers and educators alike agree that participating in recess increases students’ cognitive, academic, and social skills. The amount of time allotted for recess should be increased for students of all ages. A child’s well-being encompasses more than just academia. Children spend almost eight hours a day at school, sometimes more. The school system and

    Read More

  • Should Middle School Have Recess Essay

    457 Words  | 1 Pages

    "I believe quite strongly that there is great value in play. Play is learning lessons that often can't be learned anyplace else.’’1 An unknown middle schooler. Dr. Barros decided to conduct the study after observing a young patient's classroom--to see how antsy the student and his peers were by lunchtime.”They were given no work breaks, save for 15 minutes of quiet snacking at their desks.they were so drowsy”.

    Read More

  • The Crucial Role of Recess in School

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the “The Crucial Role of Recess in School” (2012) article it explains, many schools are beginning to replace physical activity, like recess, with more attention to academic subjects. What these schools are forgetting is that well-supervised recess also has benefits that surpass academics. They help make a well rounded student because recess offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits to the student when they are young that they carry with them into adulthood.

    Read More

  • Are Schools Making Children Obese?

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hellmich, Nanci. "Report: More PE, Activity Programs Needed in Schools." USA Today. Gannett, 23 May 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Here's One Way To Take Away Recess Essay

    731 Words  | 2 Pages

    In her Huffington Post blog article titled Here’s One Way to Wreck a Child’s Education: Take Away Recess, Haley Krischer takes an emboldened stand against the practice of eliminating recess; which is often done as a punishment or to make more time for instructional learning. I stand in agreement with Krischer. I do not agree with schools taking away recess for any reason with the exception of dangerous weather or environmental circumstances. Yet, research indicates how common the 86-ing of recess is occurring in schools. A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2010) revealed 77% of school Principals reported taking away recess as a punishment, and 81.5% of schools allow students to be excluded from recess. Krischer begins the article by introducing her 9 year old son and his affinity for recess: “the only subject he will talk about”. She gives examples of how recess benefits her son such as other students who help him troubleshoot technology issues and challenging him to improve his sports skills. Indeed, the unstructured playtime allows children to explore their environment and develop new ideas and understandings of it and those within it (American Pediatric Association, 2013). Kischer also expressed that children need active play to combat restlessness and that this is especially important for children who may suffer from ADHD, noting that taking away recess as a punishment for misbehavior may be counterproductive and result in increased behavioral problems. A longitudinal study that followed over 10,000 students between the ages of 8 and 9 concluded that student recess of at least 15 minutes resulted in better behavior as rated by teachers (Samuels, 2009).

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Recess

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    the ICPA also stats that The outdoors is the best place for children to burn calories, practice emerging physical skills and experience the pure joy of movement. Research has even shown that children who are physically active in school are more likely to be physically active at home, and children who don’t have the opportunity to be active during the school day don’t usually compensate during after-school hours. This will also help the students to feel more energized because the more your body works the more energy you will produce meaning students won't be so tired. Children get one quarter of gym and 3 quarters of band art and computer where you sit in a chair most of the time. And Recess can help children make friend

    Read More

  • Arguments Against Recess

    296 Words  | 1 Pages

    A lot of people have agreements and disagreements about if we should or should not have recess. I oppose “Recess, Think about it”, which argues against recess at Burrillville Middle School, and I agree with “An ‘Old-school’ Idea”, which describes bringing recess back to Burrillville Middle School.

    Read More

  • Keeping Recess in Schools

    1420 Words  | 3 Pages

    Schools all over the country are considering, if not already applying, the removal of recess for elementary school students. Receipts have been scientifically proven to play a substantial part in the social development of a child, their physical health, and the amount of attention they pay in the classroom. For example, the Tennessee Board of Education says, "It is the position of the NASPE that all elementary school children should be provided with at least one daily period of recess of at least 20 minutes in length" (National Association for Sports and Physical Education). Keeping recess in schools could help lower the childhood obesity rate, help children to be more attentive in class, and assist in the development of their much needed social skills. These aspects are essential to academic health and to your child succeeding academically.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Social And Emotional Learning

    2071 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to the research conducted by Hamedani and Darling-Hammond, they have concluded that it is possible to improve school performance, prosocial behaviour, and reduce aggressive

    Read More

  • Essay On Students Who Lose Recess?

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lahey states that “young children develop social skills, such as negotiation, social dynamics, and the use of subtle verbal and nonverbal communication cues” through recess. Students should be familiar with all of these qualities, so that they can apply them to the real world. Negotiating comes into play when there are oppositions, group projects, or team sports. Children learn how to negotiate with each other by reaching an agreement. This is seen when children first begin to play games or sports with one another at recess. Negotiation is a significant quality that teaches students that they do not always get their way. Social skills can be formed through interactions with people. Recess provides students with the opportunity to interact with other children in order for them to learn different behaviors. This time that is set aside for recess teachers children about acceptable and non-acceptable behaviors. Students utilize their social skills to create special bonds with others at recess time. These bonds are friendships that teach children how to improve upon their social skills. Friends are the people who bring out the best in people. Misbehaving children will miss out on learning proper socializing skills if their recess is

    Read More

  • Recess Is A Waste Of Time Essay

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    Having recess can help kids be more physically active. For example, The American Heart Association News, a news organization, stated that, ”Recess time has been championed as a way to help combat the nation’s childhood obesity problem. Studies also have shown that the

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: Should Secondary School Have Recess?

    356 Words  | 1 Pages

    Should secondary school have recess? Secondary schools should not have recess, because it takes time out of class. Some schools don't have enough class time to teach or learn about the topic that they are learning so they don't have to reteach it to the students.

    Read More

  • Childhood Play Essay

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, despite the unquestionable link to a brighter future for the children who engage in it, less and less time is being allotted for play in the classrooms. As standards for what children are expected to know at younger and younger ages continues to rise along with the demand for standardized testing from the state, time for play is being sacrificed. Adults are choosing to get rid of time for unstructured play and recess to make time for this new testing interfering with the time allotted for children to learn independently through play. Cutting play and recess is a mistake, and here is why: “recess gives students time for social interactions: for students must be able to initiate, negotiate, cooperate, share, and build relationships with one another--skills that are highly valued in the adult world but that often are quite different from work or play under adult supervision and control” (Chang). Those skills learned through play, are often not the sole purpose of a classroom lesson and could potentially be the only place they learn those needed skills. Play is an affective measurement in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom and children can learn so much from it if only given the chance

    Read More

  • Essay On Why Kids Should Start Later In School

    2061 Words  | 5 Pages

    "Should Schools Start Later in the Day?" Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication 30 Apr. 1999: 3. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2012.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Break Time or Playtime in Primary School

    2256 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...n, B., (2012) Yay for Recess: Pediatricians Say It’s as Important as Math or Reading, Available at: http://healthland.time.com/2012/12/31/yay-for-recess-pediatricians-say-its-as-important-as-math-or-reading/, (accessed: 05/01/14)

    Read More

More about Why Elementary Schools should have recess

Open Document