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.
tidy up service Glenview ..One of my first memories of childhood is that of... Read More
Studies have shown that:1 out of 4 children were sent... Read More
In stepfamilies, big holiday expectations can lead to big disappointment--and... Read More
Home schooling benefits children. As a parent, I feel it... Read More
One of the most prevalent problems of the computer age... Read More
This is one of the most common questions asked of... Read More
Mother's Day is important for children.This Mother's Day take note... Read More
Have you ever sat and watch a child struggle with... Read More
Vacations are fun ! Weekends with the family are nice.... Read More
Lead is one of the most dangerous toxins a person... Read More
By the time your children reach their teens, there is... Read More
Did you know that the school system is only able... Read More
Just the other day, I was talking to some other... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
School authorities often complain that classes are too large. They... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
My neighbours' kid impressed me the other day.I was busy... Read More
From the book Spider's Night on the BoomI've only begun... Read More
I'll never forget my first lesson in a glider.I'd been... Read More
Every children in the world whishes to have toys and... Read More
When our oldest son was 2, my wife went out... Read More
As a parent, are you at your wits end? Does... Read More
In our last issue we posted some of our suggested... Read More
It's funny how people seem to think that they have... Read More
Do you have a wild child? Then this article may... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..No matter how old your children are, you have an... Read More
Child tantrums are a way for children to express their... Read More
How many times have you flipped through the pages of... Read More
When a child is born, a new number is added... Read More
the woes of being a parent of an ADHD child.....Like... Read More
Have you ever experienced one of those days when you... Read More
It's back to school time again. Does the thought of... Read More
Are you a frustrated parent who sometimes finds it is... Read More
IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
Is there a way to build a robot to help... Read More
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
Plus size children and overweight children need patterns and clothing... Read More
Something happened the other day that made me feel uneasy.... Read More
There are a LOT of alternative treatments for sale out... Read More
It used to strike me as odd - but really,... Read More
Many families, ours included, have learned that breakfast is eaten... Read More
1. You reheated the same cup of coffee three times... Read More
Hey Parents! I hate to tell you, but there is... Read More
Just the other day my oldest son asked:"Daddy, am I... Read More
Looking for an unusual and memorable gift? Why not preserve... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
Are you a professional?Notice how the questions differs from, "Do... Read More
On a bright Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago,... Read More
I remember watching my 18-month-old son eat a big frosted... Read More
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
Parenting |