Shopping Cart 0

Redefining Recess: The Educational Benefits of Recess

0 comments

Redefining Recess: The Educational Benefits of Recess

Growing up in suburban central Connecticut, recess was never a problem at my elementary school. We had at least 30 minutes daily of unstructured recess, in addition to 30 minutes for lunch break. Recess was given to us every day, rain or shine. If it rained, we were allowed 30 minutes of unstructured “indoor recess” in the classroom, in the library, or even in the gym (provided there wasn’t a class). My elementary school also had numerous before and after school activities, in addition to a healthy youth sports population all four seasons of the year. 

But that was back in the early 2000s, when dodgeball was still played with volleyballs and bands like Smash Mouth were in the mainstream.

The point is, I got my CDC-recommended 20 minutes of recess daily, and then some after that. But not every kid gets what I got--some don’t get recess for academic reasons, others due to safety concerns or monetary restrictions--despite decades of research suggesting that kids with daily recess perform better in the classroom than those without

A Jan. 2018 study, for instance, confirmed that even short breaks throughout the day for aerobic exercise boosted memory retention and performance in adolescents. The finding supports a slew of research over the years that suggests schools need to take recess as seriously as common core. 

Detractors, however, though growing fewer in number year-by-year, continue to point out that kids have other programs they can go to for exercise and play, such as sports, after-school programs, and physical education (PE) classes.

That’s why it’s important to know that recess also provides immediate educational benefits for students in the classroom--benefits that mean higher academic test scores and longer attention spans--than those without.

A 2010 study from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), for example, found that “fourth-grade students who participated in directed physical activity during recess (stretching and aerobic walking) had significantly higher concentration scores than those students who sat quietly in the library during recess.” Additionally, the studies reported a positive relationship between recess and focus in the classroom, and that “children were less fidgety, less listless, more focused,
and more on task when they had recess compared with when they did not have recess.” 

In other words, researchers found that the children were more focused and were able to maintain attention for a longer period of time with recess than without it.

The findings mirror an Oct. 2011 study in the Journal of School Health, which found that sedentary and unhealthy kids had a more difficult time learning in school than those who were more active.

“If [kids’] ability to concentrate, use memory, and make decisions is impeded by ill-nourishment or sedentary lifestyle, if they are distracted by negative feelings, it will be more difficult for them to learn and succeed in school,” wrote Charles E. Basch, Ph.D., the author of the study.

In other words: If kids don’t get any breaks throughout the school day for physical activity, their academic test scores are likely to suffer.

We’ve all had days where we just wanted to tear our hair out--days where we wanted nothing more than to escape our office cubicles--only for our mood to do a complete one-eighty after a brisk 30-minute walk or jog around the neighborhood. Kids are no different. For them, their office cubicles are their desks, their workplaces their school. A brisk walk or jog during recess can do wonders for them. Our custom Activity Stations stencils are also the perfect tool for brief spurts of physical activity, too.

New call-to-action

Join a 30,000+ community!

Subscribe to get our inspirational and informative content, delivered to you every month!

Leave a comment

Fit & Fun Blog / active play / Fit and Fun Playscapes / recess stencils / reusable stencils / tim davis / healthy children / sensory pathways / sensory play / phys ed / physical education / pe / pe ideas / sensory pathways for school / sensory processing disorder / stencils / advocacy / recess / super stickers / healthy lifestyle / playground / sensory pathways for kids / playground stencils / social-emotional learning / sensory hallway / active adult / active seniors / adult play / fit and fun forever / friendship / sensory walks / Sensory Pathways 101 w/ Dr. Tim Davis / sensory pathway / Space Saver Roll-Outs / sensory path / teacher talks / CDC / outdoor sensory pathways / active sidewalks / cross curricular / healthy kids / physical distancing / recess resource center / spd / spray chalk / activity circuits / buddy circle / chalk the walk / childhood obesity / custom stencils / parks and recreation / social distancing / Activating SEL / SEL activities / communities / hopscotch / recess planning / teacher shortage / At-Home Activities / Fit and Fun Talks / SHAPE America / Talks with teachers / brain break / brain break ideas / high blood pressure / make more of recess / motor planning skills / pbis / phys ed ideas / save pe / clear the lists / grants / healthy kid / outdoor recess activities / recess zoning / teacher appreciation / year in review / 10 best / Newsletter Letters / Roll-Out Activities® / Summer Camp Fun / anti-bullying / calming corner / clearthelist / healthy childre / pbis framework / Fidgetivities® / Jim Hambel / Q&A / SHAPEAmerica2024 / andrew romberger / anna forcelledo / before and after school programming / chalk the wal / classroom / conflict resolution / customer support / faq / fidgeters / fidgeting / football / frequently asked questions / hea / hiller aviation museum / holidays / indoor activities / indoor recess / monthly spotlight / nature stickers / painted play spaces / peace path / purposeful movement / scouts / self-regulation / sensory processing disorde / soul shoppe / superbowl / teacher appreciation month / tim davi / volunteer / wash your hands / what the heck are those