The Benefits of Recess

"Kids at Recess" by Joe Shlabotnik courtesy of Flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeshlabotnik/21811107175

          As a young child, I was only allowed one recess a day.  This recess lasted about fifteen minutes, and I was stuck inside the rest of the eight hour school day.  For a child with ADD, I had a hard time focusing when I was forced to sit down in a chair without breaks.  I lived for this once recess where I could go outside, explore, play tetherball, make new friends, and create fantasy stories on the playground.  Last weekend I had the opportunity to discuss recess options with my girlfriend and her friends.  Most of them were given three recesses a day, and therefore felt more refreshed and were able to focus more in the classroom.  I wish I could have had three recesses.  Giving kids two or three thirty minute recesses a day will allow for cognitive, social, and emotional benefits. 
         First of all, children benefit from recess cognitively because they are less fidgety, stay on task more, have improved memory, and develop more brain connections.  According to Scholastic.com, no research shows that test scores go up when a child stays in the classroom longer.  I can personally testify to that fact. 
        Secondly, kids are allowed to be social at recess.  Most classrooms demand that you be silent or you will be kicked out or will have to move seats.  At recess, kids get to make friends and work amongst themselves to be creative with how they spend recess time.  They get to take on leadership roles, take turns, and learn to resolve problems without getting an adult involved.  Teacher Rebecca Webster wrote into Scholastic.com and said "Free play helps to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills. If we direct that time for students, how will they ever learn to do and think for themselves? Kids need to feel like they have some autonomy, or education feels more like a prison than a learning experience."  I felt like I had control when I was playing at recess.  I also feel like I would have had more friends growing up if I had a chance to meet my classmates outside of class.
        Lastly, children need recess to be physically active today more than ever.  Children are becoming more obese thanks to technology.  Recess encourages kids to be active, whereas seats do not.