Recess has begun disappearing in states all around the country. The reason is the increasing emphasis on "academics" and the mistaken belief that recess detracts from time that could be better spent studying. According to some estimates, 40% of schools have already eliminated recess or are considering the idea. Some cities have abolished recess completely and are building new elementary schools without playgrounds!
But does recess detract from children's studies? What does the research say?
Recess and Academics
Language arts (comprised of listening, speaking, reading, and writing), mathematics, science, and social studies are often considered the "essential" content areas in a typical curriculum. Although it may not be immediately obvious, recess can have an impact on all of these subjects.
For example, when children speak and listen to one another, they're using and expanding their vocabularies and learning important lessons in communication. When they move over, under, around, and through pieces of equipment, these prepositions take on meaning and relevance to them because children need to experience concepts to understand them fully. When children invent stories to act out, they develop skills essential to writing. These are some of the ways in which the language arts are addressed on the playground.
When children keep score, they're dealing with important mathematics concepts: counting, quantitative ideas (which number is bigger?; which score is highest?), and simple computation. When they decide on and act out a series of events, they're tackling the mathematics concept of sequencing. When they play hopscotch and jump rope, math is involved.
Throughout it all, the children are working together, interacting in numerous and varied ways and thereby learning valuable lessons in social studies. As children learn about themselves and about each other, they discover how they're alike and different. They explore feelings and rules for living, make decisions, and solve problems. Learned, too, is the ability to deal with conflict. In other words, children learn how to be part of and work together in a community.
Additionally, much of the learning that takes place outside is related to science. Classroom themes typically falling into the science category include the human body and such nature-related topics as the seasons, weather, plants, and animals. Where better to experience these subjects than in the outdoors?
Consider, too, such scientific concepts as evaporation (learned when children "paint" the sidewalk or side of the school with water), flotation (easily demonstrated with a bottle of bubbles and a wand), balance and stability (the lesson of the seesaw), gravity (why doesn't the ball stay in the air no matter how hard we throw it?), and action and reaction (obvious during a game of tug-of-war).
Of course, we can "teach" children these concepts through the use of lectures, books, and/or demonstrations. Or we can let children really learn them ? in such a way that the lessons remain with them for a lifetime. The research shows that, for the majority of individuals, learning by doing is the most effective. In fact, the more senses involved in the learning process, the more individuals retain.
What Else the Research Says
Recess also contributes more indirectly to the learning of academics. As far back as 1885 and 1901, the research showed that both children and adults learn better and more quickly when their efforts are distributed (breaks are included) than when concentrated (work is conducted in longer periods). In fact, because young children don't process most information as effectively as older individuals (due to the immaturity of their nervous systems and their lack of experience), they can especially benefit from breaks.
We also have to consider the value of the outdoors. The outside light stimulates the pineal gland, which is the part of the brain that helps regulate our biological clock, is vital to the immune system, and simply makes us feel happier. Outside light triggers the synthesis of vitamin D. And a number of studies have demonstrated that it increases academic learning and productivity.
Young children learn much through their senses, and the outdoors is a virtual wonderland for the senses. There are different and incredible things for the children to see (insects, clouds, and shadows), to hear (traffic sounds, birdsongs, leaves rustling in the wind), to smell (flowers and the rain-soaked ground), to touch (a fuzzy caterpillar or the bark of a tree), and even to taste (newly fallen snow, a raindrop, or a freshly picked blueberry). Children who spend much of their time acquiring experiences through television, computers, and even books are using only two senses (hearing and sight), and this can seriously affect their perceptual abilities.
Then, too, there's the aesthetic value of the outdoors. Because the natural world is filled with amazing sights, sounds, and textures, it's the perfect resource for the development of aesthetics in young children. Since aesthetic awareness means a heightened sensitivity to the beauty around us, it's something that can serve children well at those times when, as adolescents and adults, the world seems less than beautiful.
Rae Pica is a children's physical activity specialist and the author of Your Active Child: How to Boost Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Development through Age-Appropriate Activity (McGraw-Hill, 2003). Rae speaks to parent and education groups throughout North America. Visit her and read more articles at http://www.movingandlearning.com.
disinfecting cleaning services Buffalo Grove ..Parents play a critical role in their child's success. These... Read More
Every year over one million parents have to talk to... Read More
Hey Parents! I hate to tell you, but there is... Read More
It is hard to believe that summer is coming to... Read More
When is a person brilliant? When does a person show... Read More
In this form of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder... Read More
Look around: Your kids are counting sleeps until the last... Read More
Speaking as a Michael (a Hebrew name, meaning "Who is... Read More
There is no doubt that mothers play an all-important leading... Read More
Here are fourteen spontaneous time-outs, specially designed to help you... Read More
After giving up my profession to become a wife, a... Read More
Advocate: you've probably heard the term before. But what does... Read More
The legend and myth of the Tooth Fairy is a... Read More
The least flexible character in all of the stories of... Read More
Everyone needs friends, and, as parents, you and I both... Read More
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience... Read More
Most of us when asked what we want our children... Read More
When David was nine and Laura was twelve, the battles... Read More
Despite the potentially dangerous side-effects of Ritalin, public school authorities... Read More
Not so long ago a dad-to-be would pace up and... Read More
We've got spirit, yes we do! We've got spirit how... Read More
Do you feel like someone has abducted your sweet, innocent... Read More
"In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't... Read More
In memory of 14 year old Matthew Smith; 11 year... Read More
When we consider that the word allowance means, "allowing for,"... Read More
spotless home service Arlington Heights ..We were all teens at one time for some many... Read More
Do you have a young child whose weight or eating... Read More
Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within... Read More
If your child is to derive the benefits of physical... Read More
So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic... Read More
1. Boundaries are necessary for control and safety.All children need... Read More
We need a grass roots campaign targeted towards parents to... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comParents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?It's... Read More
She slipped her small, soft eight-year-old hand into mine. Her... Read More
Why Me?"We should certainly count our blessings, but we should... Read More
Young people generally want to fit in to their various... Read More
Raising a pre-teen or teenage daughter (or son) is not... Read More
Here is a list of ways to convey the message... Read More
Child Party Planning Guideline #1)Pick the ThemeYour child is going... Read More
Recently I took my two children to a popular new... Read More
Quite simply, an absolute nightmare for parents and babies alike,... Read More
I look out of the window as I am writing... Read More
We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More
One of the most important aspects of parenting, is ensuring... Read More
Ask parents what their biggest school year challenge is, and... Read More
An address given by Rev. David B. Smith... Read More
Each child carries a unique picture of the self, shaped... Read More
"Walk through any toy store and you will see walls... Read More
In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
The big yellow school bus is coming down my road... Read More
Parenting |