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.
Culver prom limo ..Homes should be run by parents, not children. So many... Read More
As a hypnotherapist, I am acutely aware of the power... Read More
Did you know that cooking with your kids is a... Read More
As part of the whole-language (or "balanced") reading-instruction philosophy, many... Read More
'How can I start getting my children to help out... Read More
A friend phoned her neighbor, complaining about the wafts of... Read More
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
Have you ever watched your teenager make a mistake (that... Read More
For several years now, I've told the following story as... Read More
For over fifty years, public-school officials and politicians have tried... Read More
1. STOP focusing on what you are going to make... Read More
Home schooling. What is it? What does it mean to... Read More
One of parents' most important duties is to protect their... Read More
We begin forming healthy habits at a young age. With... Read More
Imagine you were the principal of the school that your... Read More
We all scream for ice cream. Or, we don't, at... Read More
Q. "What do you want to be when you grow... Read More
You have just received a call from your child's teacher... Read More
Courage means doing the right thing when it is hard,... Read More
In an actual war, to be attacked means to have... Read More
I had my first two children on either side of... Read More
How on earth can you help your family cope with... Read More
Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles,... Read More
My cousin boasts five names and I confess that when... Read More
When a child is born, a new number is added... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..John was a 43 year-old sales manager at a large... Read More
Home-schooling removes children from public school. That alone makes home-schooling... Read More
Would you like your child to be the best that... Read More
Cardiovascular endurance is one of the five health-related components of... Read More
What is Happening in the brain of children, teens, and... Read More
Children think money grows on trees. Maybe not literally, but... Read More
More and more kids these days are diagnosed ADD, ADHD,... Read More
Well first off, please to don't institute the ? hour... Read More
The techniques of managing relationships between parents and their children... Read More
Those of you that have children know what an excursion... Read More
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to twins: Hazel and Phinnaeus.... Read More
Do you think you really know your child? I don't... Read More
Mealtimes together deserve an important place in any family. Around... Read More
Depending on where you live school will be starting this... Read More
Time devoted the better part of an issue to it.... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More
"It takes a village to raise a child" is more... Read More
Minus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
Impulsivity is one of the hallmarks of people with Attention... Read More
The time you will need to teach your children the... Read More
I've often thought that in 6 million years, archaeologists will... Read More
What are the easiest things citizens can do to prevent... Read More
Choosing a baby name is an important job, so make... Read More
Are you glad for the chance to put your child... Read More
It is extraordinary times that we find ourselves in. Change... Read More
Parenting |