middle school recess pros and cons

Recess is a regularly scheduled period in the school day for physical activity and play that is monitored by trained staff or volunteers.1,2 During recess, students are encouraged to be physically active and engaged with their peers in activities of their choice, at all grade levels, kindergarten through 12th grade.1,3. In schools, the length specified for recess ranges widely, from 20 to 60 minutes per day. Brian Sutton-Smith,developmental psychologist and play researcher, Clearly, more time for recess would of necessity mean less time in class. However they spend their recess, no student is sitting for seven hours a day. So many kids! Quality physical education along with daily recess are necessary components of the school curriculum that enable students to develop physical competence, health-related fitness, self responsibility, and enjoyment of physical activity so that they can be physically active for a lifetime, the groups wrote in a position paper about elementary school recess in 2001. For many schools, poor equipment or lack of school employees makes optional programs like recess impossible. A 2009 study found that 8- and 9-year-old children who had at least one daily recess period of more than 15 minutes had better classroom behavior. 0000016059 00000 n 2023 LoveToKnow Media. The 2016 Shape of the Nation report by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) provides a snapshot of what recess in the U.S. looks like for adolescents. Maybe its because its during those years we took our first steps out from under the near-constant wing of our parents. Come and visit our school to learn more about how a challenging and rigorous academic program is enhanced by having recess continue through grade 12, and how we are serious aboutthe importance of play! Are you an educator? xXn6}shohhQ}8H\j$!%@m%93gM^|z/~*h$/|svXi4xolnO47wF7L,l\MwaRI-a0&j#MP7nNX3pScWwL +J8,^uzU'ASGplwXZ#_]WyT ^peb:}Np0O{yG\+w.,pFlws VCK3xtS2u!4`]ou~v4C,=0GG:r^(q`)6d'z9^AX)-*9i,' Big changes start small. 2. While the time spent at recess is shorter in middle school, the periodic breaks have the same optimizing effects on the brain. How about some paint? Take on a new exercise routine with your child. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/688 4. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. It does take away from the joy of school, and the joy of reality at times. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Some kids do not get the opportunity to play with their friends outside of the school environment. Classroom performance improves after recess. Moreover, that recess periods randomly scheduled in school day, could potentially disrupt children's work routine. With increasing academic demands, social pressures and child obesity trends, middle school students may need recess more than ever before. Needless to say I was not impressed. I find it interesting that athletic play specifically violates one of the central definitions of play: that it must not be structured or directed by adults, and definitely does not allow room for any of Osterweils four freedoms. I would love to mention your website as well as attach a link to this article for the assignment. <>/Metadata 325 0 R/Outlines 272 0 R/Pages 318 0 R/StructTreeRoot 279 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> Middle School recess includes physical activity during exploratory programs, midmorning breaks, lunchtime intramural activities, or health and fitness clubs. Not enough money for the people to supervise and for the equipment. Currently, recess time is being cut to allow for more instruction in math and reading. Allowing kids to go out and exercise every day also helps reduce the risk of diseases, such as heart disease, later in life. Pros and Cons of Recess Time in Schools Is Recess a Mere Tradition or a Vital Piece in Education? Discuss the pros and cons of organized sports; . 5 min read. Gym is different than recess. endobj 2. Art, music, gym, and other non-core classes become expendable. One reason why we should have recess is that after sitting for a long time and barely moving from class to class, it can get us quite fidgety and we become easily distracted. It also involves standing and listening, while recess offers freedom of movement. While there are compelling scientific perspectives on the importance of play, it seems that most people seek a different, more phenomenological understanding of play: what is it about the experience of play that we need, and why? Each brings a unique set of talents and perspective that will support Playworks mission. The opposite of play is not work; its depression. Recess. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. <>stream PROS for Working in Speech Therapy for Middle School: You can have real, adult-like conversations with students every day in speech therapy for middle school. middle school recess pros and cons. on school playgrounds (Pellegrini et al. She has written for community newspapers, college magazines and Salon.com. In essence, recess should be considered a childs personal time, and it should not be withheld for academic or punitive reasons.. Or maybe its because we all had to endure middle school. Id like to have a word. Build in a mandatory movement time during each class period. ``Az@\ !7 @8Q> _h%b` Figure 10.10 - A girl running on a track field. Our students value this time, and though eighth graders may not squeal with joy over a game of four-square, they still smile and laugh as they walk the perimeter of the field. \j: ;t:Y!fpr)HhL}FJ7P9,oyaja_dAMq*0WLqzNpb,BbU%t^$E_K+Y'nn s ;_2#%m]>!3!,l,6q87]lap "&e*;t'kLM[k=Pq'I'%F}a+&]';r93]LP^l(QH&{6[M&th3'7j%a"W?OL@P1lt 6 (Sg?{_SWet3Z It seems obvious that the universally-accepted notion that play is crucial for child development should be extended into the rest of childhood and not abruptly removed after fifth grade. Children are more attentive and productive in the classroom after recess, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on "The Crucial Role of Recess in School." And for the ones that arent, well, lets hope they at least make for a good story some day. Playworks is thrilled to welcome five new members to our National Board of Directors. Not only does not getting a break wear kids out emotionally and mentally, it also makes it difficult for children to maintain a healthy weight. Because not only do we ask that of these rapidly morphing beings, who must cross from childhood to pre-adult in three brutal years, we then ask them to LEARN. If students are brainstorming for a writing activity, have them move to the four corners of the room, jotting down ideas on different whiteboards or posters. My students and I knew each other better because of recess. At Fessenden, we recognize that recess is an important, beneficial, and necessary component of a middle schooler's academic day. I wasnt particularly fond of middle school-not only did I live under the constant watch of a bully but I experienced a fashion crisis of epic proportions. Not everyone agrees. A supervised, structured playtime can have some of the same physical and cognitive benefits for students while keeping them off their electronic devices during recess. In this episode of the Harvard EdCast, London shares ideas from her new book, Rethinking Recess, how to create a more inclusive recess, and why taking away recess especially as punishment is a bad idea for kids. A Fourth Is Crucial, Too: Recess; Tara Parker-Pope, American Heart Association: Overweight in Children. They create, debate, and wonder. Generally, it seems that schools think that students should become serious about their studies in high school, and that middle schools role as a transition to high school means that recess that frivolous, empty, unstructured piece of (four kinds of) freedom must be put aside. <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 319 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> In recent years, more parents have begun fighting a trend of reduced recess time and are calling on schools to give children a chance to play. A 2014 study published in Preventive Medicine found that holding recess before lunch increased students fruit and vegetable consumption by 54%. 1. It combines a set of made-up rules or norms and a willingness to explore. Pros / Cons - The Recess Debate Pros Introducing breaks after instruction time enhances attention and performance at all ages. I absolutely agree and adore this article. CDC twenty four seven. The older we get, the more sitting we do in school. Less disruptive behavior when recess is more than 15 minutes per day. A sixth grade student may be a middle schooler in one district and an elementary schooler in an adjacent district, for example, and there are still plenty of K-8 configurations, especially in private schools. The survey showed that 20% of school districts had reduced recess time. Only after using up this surplus energy through active play can students return to learning and are able to focus. Currently, recess time is being cut to allow for more instruction in math and reading. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. One definition of learning is acquiring knowledge through experience. endobj 0000016242 00000 n Schools that struggle to pay for books and classroom materials or are faced with deteriorating buildings could fare better without the push to provide recess when they can barely provide an effective education. %PDF-1.7 % But students in about 4 percent of public schools attend on a year-round . Here's How It Happened, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. Here is what they said: I decided to dig up my notes from when I toured the school to look at my pros and cons and see how they compared. However, there is an even longer list of reasons why cell phones in school is a bad thing. Do seventh graders not need a break from academic subjects? I was given the liberty to choose what id like my topic to be. It would seem, then, that we have created this self-contradictory situation for ourselves and our children: we insist that play is good, if not crucial, for them and enshrine it as recess in elementary schools nationwide and then we take it away from them entirely, at an arbitrary point in their development at what might arguably be the worst possible point, actually. In our era of assessment and accountability, school districts look for ways to increase instructional time. Only 4% of high schools are required to provide regular physical activity. Reply. 0000002533 00000 n Just last week during recess, a group of middle school students organized a Cardboard Olympics and created events using only cardboard. Keep Recess in Schools [PDF 337 KB]This data brief defines recess, provides a snapshot of current recess practices in the United States, and highlights ways to improve recess through national guidance and practical strategies and resources. 240 Words; 1 Pages; Satisfactory . 0000016791 00000 n If children don't get breaks when needed, learning declines and symptoms shown are: fidgeting, restlessness, waning concentration, off-task behavior. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of the more debated educational issues currently is whether there should be middle school recess. July 27, 2010 at 5:41 pm . 331 0 obj Heres why three of the reasons people use to justify taking recess away are simply not true. Students have many experiences on the playground. When funding is available, some argue it should be focused on learning environments and materials, not play things. Aside from the physical benefits of playing sports, however, there are some other benefits to consider. Praeger Publishers. The idea of saving recess got major publicity in 2006 when Cartoon Network launched a campaign in conjunction with the National Parent and Teacher's Association called Rescuing Recess. Some research suggests that by the ninth grade, summer learning losses account for two-thirds of the achievement gap between low- and middle-income students. The individuals who joined the Playworks Board in December 2022 and January 2023 are: Leslie Boissiere Vice President, External Affairs Annie E. Casey Foundation Leslie oversees the Annie, Play is a behavior that is natural and has existed for thousands of years and across species. 0 What middle school kid doesnt need help with thatespecially when it comes to making important decisions about braces and body suits? The truly great advances of this generation will be madeby those who can make outrageous connections,and only a mind which knows how to play can do that. Because these subjects are not typically under the microscope of state testing, they may be on the chopping block. We have only 30 minutes for lunch and even then we are told what to do. That was it. Middle School recess includes physical activity during exploratory programs, midmorning breaks, lunchtime intramural activities, or health and fitness clubs. All this plus the emotional strife experienced by most tween girls torn between friends and boyfriends, childhood and growing up. Magazines, Digital The debate over standardized testing grew with the enactment of No Child Left Behind in 2002 and, more recently, with the adoption of Common Core State Standards. The results are the same whether the recess is held indoors or out. When children sit for long periods of time, they build up surplus energy. Recess, and other times for play and reflection, allow children to deepen their understanding of what they have learned at their desks and to develop social relationships that are a critical. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. One in three kids is overweight or obese, which is three times the rate in 1963. With increasing academic demands, social pressures and child obesity trends, middle school students may need recess more than ever before. It's amazing how fast the hours go by. 4. Looking at the American school system, it is immediately obvious that educators seem to share one important perspective on play: it belongs exclusively to young students. Note that he does not say anything about play not having rules, which is a common misconception about what free play entails. Physical activity increases blood flow, which sends oxygen to the brain. endobj [2] Why, then, does it exist? Follow an example counselor . How Cell Phones Can Be Used Effectively In the Classroom. JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Gifted Children, Gifted Parents: How to Navigate Intensity, Acceleration for gifted students: When good is not good enough, Balancing IQ with EQ and the Cognitive Power of Being Yourself. We celebrate diversity and are fully committed to creating an inclusive community at our school. There are two major concerns addressed by those who opposed to recess. If these subjects are being cut, where does that leave recess? Don't underestimate the importance of recess in your classroom. this was very helpful! There's no right or wrong decision when it comes to going to prom. endstream But a 2010 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found positive associations between recess and academic performance. The Pros of a Longer School Day Matches Parents Schedules Currently, most K-12 schools dismiss their students in the mid-afternoon. Reduces disruptive. She uses parent volunteers and time during the lunch period for recess, which helps parents connect to their kids and the school while kids get a break and the chance to find support from their friends. Last year, Rhode Island enacted a similar law requiring 20 minutes of consecutive recess for elementary-school kids. xref 1. 0000001888 00000 n These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. Citing all of those factors, in 2017 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)which pointedly differentiates play from physical education, defining recess as "unstructured physical activity and play"recommended at least 20 minutes of recess a day at the elementary school level. DestinationCollege 2023: 8-Week Series Guiding Parents Through the College Admissions Process, Promoting Exercise For Teens: Raising Healthy Teens, What to Expect in Middle School: Strategies for Parents from Lisa Damour, Understanding Changing Middle School Friendships. Setting the Stage for Healthy Choices. Playgrounds, fields, gymnasiums, games, sports equipment, and recess monitors all cost money that many schools just don't have. After reinstating recess for middle school students, International Christian School Uijongbu (ICSU) saw a significant decrease in the amount of detentions given in one year. endobj ( :Xp9 R:[5'1u'00CO/vx9\w? Improves students' memory, attention and concentration. Explains that young children develop social skills through recess, such as negotiation, social dynamics, and the use of subtle verbal and non-verbal communication cues. But if you're on the fence, here are some things to think about. The building looks run down. Are eighth graders so cognitively different that they should spend their days entirely in structured, adult-directed activity?[3]. Included:-Notes to Teacher-Source 1: The Case Against Recess-Source 2: According to Pediatricians, Recess is Best-Source 3: Texas School Triples Recess-O 0000000736 00000 n 26. Do sixth graders not also have energy? 46 On the basis of this Minor movement, even standing, counterbalances the sedentary time students spend sitting in classrooms and on the couch. Leads to greater on-task. Saving Lives, Protecting People, CDC and SHAPE America: Recess Planning Template (2017), Oklahoma Education: Painted Play Spaces Assessment and Planning Toolkit, Peaceful Playgrounds 60 Alternatives to Withholding Recess, http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=18314&page=R1, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors and Academic Grades, Tobacco Product Use Behaviors and Academic Grades, Other Health Behaviors and Academic Grades, Characteristics of an Effective Curriculum, Tips for Promoting School Employee Wellness, Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool, Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT), Body Mass Index (BMI) Measurement in Schools, Inclusive School Physical Education and Physical Activity, Physical Activity Before and After School, What School Nutrition Professionals Need to Know About COVID-19, Modifying School Spaces During Mealtimes to Reduce Spread of COVID-19, Supporting Students with Chronic Health Conditions in School-Based OST Programs, Healthy and Supportive School Environments, Strategies to Create a Healthy and Supportive School Environment, Strategies to Help Parents and Families Create Healthy and Supportive School Environments, How Families Can Support Student Health and Emotional Well-being, Toolkit for Schools: Engaging Parents to Support Student Health and Emotional Well-being, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS), e-Learning Series: Training Tools for Healthy Schools, Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program, Guide to Evaluating Professional Development, Understanding the Training of Trainers Model, Professional Development Follow-Up Support, How to Build a Training Cadre: A Step-by-Step Process, Guide to Promoting Professional Development, Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC), Encourage healthy eating in school and at home, Dental Sealants Can Improve Students Oral Health, Give Your Kids a Healthy Body and Mind This Summer, Engaging Parents to Promote Healthy Schools, Funded Nongovernmental Organizations for Healthy Schools, BAM! This includes the time it takes to get into the lunchroom, wait in line for a meal, find a place to sit, eat lunch, and bring trays and other items to waste/recycling stations at the end of lunch. Celebrating 25 Years The 2021-2022 school year marked a major milestone for our team as we celebrated 25 years of bringing the power of play to kids across the country. 0000004401 00000 n According to Public School Review, the pros of recess include giving children time to socialize with their friends outside of the classroom, to get exercise and to have a break from their school work.

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