1. Helps Make the Grade…Worthwhile
Recess:
Helps Make the Grade…Worthwhile
Caroline Vakhordjian
Fall 2004

2. History of Recess Information prior to the 1900’s: Limited
Before the Revolutionary War, recess was considered vital for emotional and intellectual growth 
Depictions of early school environments show children playing, thus indicating recess was a regular practice

3. History of Recess 1900 to Present Day:
By the 1950's, three recesses a day were the norm
A 1989 survey states that 90% of U.S. school districts had one to two recess periods per day
Each period ranged from minutes
Today, 40% of U.S. schools have eliminated or are in the process of eliminating recess

4. Why is Recess Disappearing?
The belief that added time on academics will increase academic performance
Increased school accountability and student testing procedures (High Stakes Testing)
Liability
Inadequate supervision:
Bullying
Injury
schools organize their limited resources to assure emphasis on tested subjects. To do this, schools reduce or eliminate courses like music, art, social studies, and physical education
to maximize classroom time and staff availability for tested subjects.
Requirements have left many children with no recess or physical education at a time when they and their teachers are under more stress.

5. Why is Recess Disappearing?
Lack of play areas.
Portables take play space
Puritanical work ethic
Ignorance
Apathy
Children’s inability to speak for themselves and make policy.

6. The Importance of Recess
Freud believed play to be the perfect time to act out dreams and fears
Recess provides a needed break
From classroom confinement and seatwork
From teacher control and structured activities
From submission
From indoor air pollution and poor lighting
Have you noticed that children like to act out gun battles, fights, and monsters. Many people get upset that children are making guns out of sticks or fingers, but in fact we need to allow them to play in this manner. This type of play allows them, like Freud stated, to act out their fears. It helps them to process the information the see or think.

7. Importance of Recess Health Benefits Increases physical activity
Increases blood supply to vital organs, including the brain and lungs
Reduces risk of obesity and obesity related diseases that are on the rise
Strengthens bones and improves bone development
Improves cognitive function

8. Importance of Recess Relieves stress and anxiety
Improves cognitive function
Activities broken up by regular breaks are better and more easily learned
Allows students to process, discuss, and apply information outside of the classroom environment
Research has demonstrated that participation in physical education does not reduce academic performance, even with a 14%-26% reduction
in time spent teaching tested subjects In fact, studies have linked physical activity with improved academic performance. Several studies have shown that physical activity
improves reading, writing, and math scores.22,23,26 Research
consistently demonstrates an association between physical
activity and improved cognitive function, mental acuity, and
mental status (e.g., increased self-esteem and decreased stress and anxiety) School-based physical activity has also been linked with reductions in discipline problems,
improved school attendance,26,27 and reduced likelihood that students will smoke or use alcohol or drugs.8,7,22

9. Importance of Recess Gives the students freedom of choice
Choice of the activity
Choice of whether they want to play alone or with others
Empowers and builds self reliance
Peer interaction
Conflict resolution
Leadership
Communication
Social Skills

10. Importance of Recess Creativity Organization and Order
Creation of games or ideas
Play inspires stories and story development
Organization and Order
Organization of groups, rules, and tasks
Critical Thinking Skills
Students must identify and solve problems as they arise in real-time

11. Recess’ Importance for Teachers
Recess gives teachers the opportunity to see their students in an unstructured environment. This allows them to identify strengths and weaknesses of their students.
Leadership skills
Antisocial behavior
Student Interests

12. Recess’ Importance to Teachers
Discipline tool
This is a controversial policy
Suggestions:
If used, only use 3 to 5 minutes as punishment, not the entire period.
Try not to use it more than 2 days a week.
Helps with classroom management
Helps prevent classroom disruption
Helps keep students more on task when in class.

13. Research Supporting Daily Recess
Researchers have found children in some schools have only six to ten minutes of aerobic activity in a typical 40-minute physical education class
The CDC encourages children to get an hour or more of physical activity daily. A minimum of 20 minutes must be moderate to vigorous
Recess provides time for physical activity
Research has demonstrated that participation in physical education does not reduce academic performance, even with a 14%-26% reduction
in time spent teaching tested subjects In fact, studies have linked physical activity with improved academic performance. Several studies have shown that physical activity
improves reading, writing, and math scores.22,23,26 Research
consistently demonstrates an association between physical
activity and improved cognitive function, mental acuity, and
mental status (e.g., increased self-esteem and decreased stress and anxiety) School-based physical activity has also been linked with reductions in discipline problems,
improved school attendance and reduced likelihood that students will smoke or use alcohol or drugs.8,7,22
Jarrett said her own classroom studies show that, deprived of recess, children cannot concentrate as easily, lose focus and distract others. She takes satisfaction from taped observations that show the average cooped-up pupil, when tracked all day, is totally distracted for 15 to 20 minutes -- the length of the average recess period.

14. Research Supporting Daily Recess
Breaks strategically placed during and between cognitively demanding tasks increase children's attention and may increase learning.
Children and adults alike apply themselves better to, and more thoroughly learn, material contained in tasks spaced over time rather than those which are concentrated (Pelligrini)
Recess may play a critical role in fostering attentional skills in children
A southern urban school district with a policy against recess granted permission for 2 Grade 4 classes to have recess once a week so that subsequent behavior on recess and nonrecess days could be compared. A multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures and subsequent analyses of variance indicated that the 43 children, who were used as their own controls, differed on recess and nonrecess days, becoming more on task and less fidgety when they had recess. Sixty percent of the children, including all 5 of those with attention deficit disorder, and a balance of boys and girls benefited considerably. They worked more or fidgeted less (or both) on recess days (Olga S Jarrett et al., 1998).

15. Research Supporting Daily Recess
There is evidence to show that children become restless and inattentive after prolonged sitting in class, and the longer the confinement the more restless they become (Evans, J., Pellegrini, A. 1997).
"Rest periods of short duration, running from 5 to 20 minutes, are common in industry. They promote the efficiency of the employee… (US Department of Labor Web Site, 2004).
The US Army acknowledges the need for a ten-minute break every hour during training sessions. This "at rest" session increases the likelihood of greater results when training over an extended period of time.

16. Recess and Other Nations
“The long school days in Asia are broken up by extensive amounts of recess.  The recess in turn fosters a positive attitude toward academics” (Stevenson, 1992).
"We found Asian children listening to the teacher more frequently than American children - at least 80 percent of the time versus approximately 60 percent."

17. Organizations for Daily Recess:
National Association of Elementary School Principals
American Heart Association
National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (2002)
National Association for Sport and Physical Education (2001)
NAESP recognizes recess as an important component in a child's physical and social development. Research supports the inclusion of recess and other free play activities in a child's daily schedule. NAESP encourages principals to promote the development and maintenance of appropriately supervised free play for children during the school day. ('99,'04)

18. Organizations for Daily Recess
Action for Healthy Kids
National Association for the Education of Young Children
United States Department of Health & Human Services
CDC: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

19. Organizations for Daily Recess
American Medical Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
The AMA states, "The combination of physical education classes and recess during which the student may be involved in sports greatly increases a child's daily activity level.  These are not extravagances to concede during budget planning."

20. Recess Resources
The American Association for the Child’s Right to Play
Recess Please
Moving and Learning

21. May recess be known by our children as a wonderfully fun, outdoor period and not simply as a popular cartoon on Toon Disney.
C. Vakhordjian