RECESS

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RECESS

• Recess is a period of free play, usually
  conducted outdoors. A key component of recess is
  that it is unstructured and undirected.

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Recess vs. Physical Education

Though some people may believe that physical
education often resembles recess, they differ in
many ways. Structured play, as in P.E.,
addresses a childs physical health and
development. It is part of an organized
curriculum where the student receives a grade
like all other subject areas. Participation is
not voluntary and free social time is not part of
the curriculum. Unstructured play, as in recess,
addresses a childs physical health, mental
health, social and cognitive developments. It
has little or no adult direction and children are
allowed to choose their activity, activity
levels, and degree of social interaction. A
childs imagination and creativity plays a vital
role in this type of play, as opposed to
structured play. While recess is an
essential component of the elementary school
program, it is inappropriate to substitute recess
for physical education or physical education for
recess.
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Importance of Recess

• There has been an enormous amount of research
  conducted on the important role recess plays in
  healthy child development, concluding that recess
  is necessary for a childs
• Physical Health
• Mental / Emotional Health
• Social Development
• Cognitive Development
• Academic Achievement

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Recess is the right of every child.

• Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on
  Childrens Rights states that every child has the
  right to leisure time. Taking away recess,
  whether as a disciplinary measure or abolishing
  it in the name of work, infringes on that right.

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Reduced opportunities for outdoor playtime have
been linked to

• There is no research or theory to suggest that
  getting rid of recess is good for student
  achievement.
• School Difficulties
• Increased Childhood Anxiety
• Disconnection from Nature
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Epidemic of Childhood Obesity

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Play Deprivation

• Several studies over the past decade have
  looked at the effects of play deprivation and
  found that an absence of play in supportive,
  positive context can create adults who are
• Violent
• Anti-Social
• Mentally Impaired
• Emotionally Sterile

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• RECESS AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

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Being Physically Fit

• Regular physical activity promotes health in
  children just as it does in adults. It is a fact
  that physically active children are more likely
  to become physically active adults.

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Childhood Obesity Leads To
According to the New England Journal of Medicine,
American life expectancy will decrease 2-5 years
by the year 2040 due to the current childhood
obesity epidemic.

• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Colon Cancer
• Depression

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Benefits of Daily Physical Activity

• Weight Control
• Aerobic Endurance
• Muscular Strength
• Motor Coordination
• Enhanced Muscle Growth
• Stimulates the growth of the heart, lungs,
• and other vital organs.

Given the short and long-term health benefits of
physical activity and the fact that children
spend a significant amount of their waking hours
at school, it is imperative that they be given
ample opportunity for physical activity during
school hours.
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• RECESS AND MENTAL HEALTH

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• In a 1998 study, two 4th grade classes of
  25-30 students each were observed for
  attentiveness and fidgetiness before and after
  recess. The study group included five students
  diagnosed with and medicated for attention
  deficit disorder (ADD). The results showed that
  the majority of students were more attentive and
  less fidgety after recess. All of the children
  diagnosed with ADD were observed to have
  benefited from their recess break. Many experts
  believe that free play is a far better treatment
  for ADD/ADHD than Ritalin.
• Goodbye recess, hello Ritalin

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Childhood Stress Can Lead To
Todays children are faced with more stress than
any generation of children preceding them. They
are experiencing a whole new realm of tight
schedules, and high expectations, which often
demands that they behave, not as children, but as
little adults.

• Health Problems
• Behavior Problems
• Sleeplessness
• Worry
• Anxiety
• Sadness
• Exhaustion

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Studies show that prolonged periods of
confinement can lead to

• Fidgeting
• Restlessness
• Inability to Concentrate

Furthermore, studies also show that by offering
recess it can

• Relieve Stress
• Reduce Anxiety
• Improve Attentiveness
• Reduce Fidgeting
• Increase Self-esteem

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• RECESS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

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Recess is the period of time during the school
day that allows children the opportunity to
interact with peers in a way not usually possible
in the typical classroom. During Recess
Children Learn

• Cooperation
• Sharing
• Language
• Conflict Resolution
• Respect for Rules
• Self-Discipline
• Appreciation for Other Peoples Cultures

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• According to a recent study conducted in three
  San Antonio, Texas schools, when denied of
  opportunities to learn socialization skills and
  develop friendships during recess, students
  demonstrated insecure behaviors and lack of self
  confidence.
• An important educational and socialization
  experience is lost when children are not allowed
  to participate in free play with peers on a
  regular basis.

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• RECESS AND ACADEMIC/COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

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Frequent Breaks Can Help Children
Physical activity fuels the brain, making the
brain better able to process a variety of
information, thus leading to improved retention
of facts, a greater understanding of concepts,
and the capacity to master new and remember old
information.

• Stay on Task
• Minimize Disruptive Behavior
• Retain What They Learn

Studies show that providing more time for
physical activity by reducing class time actually
leads to increased concentration and stronger
academic achievement by improving reading,
writing and mathematic test scores.
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The Freedom to Play and Learn Actas cited by
House Bill 366 states

• Numerous national organizations support
  school recess as an integral component of a
  childs physical, mental, social, and academic
  development. The Texas Legislature has shown
  their support for recess for elementary school
  children by passing Senate Bill 530 (House Bill
  366)

that the local school health advisory council
shall consider and make policy recommendations to
the district concerning the importance of daily
recess for elementary school students. The
council must consider research regarding
unstructured and undirected play, academic and
social development, and the health benefits of
daily recess in making the recommendations. The
council shall ensure that local community values
are reflected in any such policy recommendation
made to the district.
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This school year a huge change was made to the
daily schedule at my own childs school. Recess,
once a staple in the childrens daily routine,
has now been greatly reduced and for some
students, eliminated.
Grades Currently

Previous Years Including all 5 years the
elementary was rated Exemplary by the State of
Texas.
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Why No Recess?

• In my efforts to both understand my
  schools current recess policy and to educate my
  school on the important role recess plays, I have
  met with both the elementary principal and the
  school superintendent. They cite two basic
  reasons for reducing and eliminating recess
• According to the principal I require 60 minutes
  of instruction time for the core subjects and
  there was no way to find the time without taking
  recess and putting it back into instruction.
• According to the superintendent Because of a
  decline in reading scores for fifth graders and
  math scores for fourth graders on last years
  TAKS, the students are now allowed only one
  earned recess a week.
• Despite the overwhelming amount of
  research supporting recess impact on a childs
  physical health, mental health, social
  development, and even academic achievement, the
  recess policy has not changed.

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Wellness Policy

• My schools current wellness policy states
• Elementary school will provide daily recess,
  preferably outdoors, during which moderate to
  vigorous physical activity will be encouraged.
  Exceptions may be made by the principal for
  circumstances such as shortened days, special
  events, and altered schedules.
• Note On February 5th, the SHAC clarified their
  original intent to state To provide the
  principal the opportunity to make temporary
  adjustments due to inclement weather, shortened
  days, or unforeseen, unplanned events.

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SHAC Challenges

• I took part in presenting research regarding
  recess to my local SHAC. After reviewing the
  research, the SHAC made a recommendation to the
  district to reinstate daily recess. Many
  challenges faced during this process include
• 1) SHAC Liaison (school
  nurse) directs the meetings
• 2) Administration sets the
  agenda
• 3) Parent participation is
  below 50
• 4) School Board is not
  represented
• Though the SHAC fulfilled their duty as cited
  by HB366, the superintendent rejected both the
  recommendation as well as the clarification in
  regards to the wellness policy.

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In Conclusion

• The research overwhelmingly shows that recess
  is a necessary component of a childs physical,
  mental, social, and academic development. To
  ignore the benefits of recess could very well be
  detrimental to our childrens health and
  well-being. Therefore, recess and its many
  benefits should remain a part of our childrens
  daily school routine.

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