![]() The debate on whether recess is necessary or not, continues. Does it promote optimal child development and well-being or is it a waste of time? The purpose of this article was to take a look at the value of recess as an important component of the school day. Ramstetter argues that recess serves as a critical role in school as not only a break from the academic challenges in the classroom, but it promotes activity and a healthy lifestyle to the students. Think about this, have you ever seen kids play and pretend they are horses galloping across the desert? What about them running up to you with T-rex arms pretending to be dinosaurs chasing each other? How about 4 princesses prancing in the forest twirling in their big beautiful dresses? I see this every single day. Ranstetter states that free play provides a unique delivery to a child’s creative, social and emotional development and may combat childhood obesity as well (Ramstetter, 2010). Amongst the many viewpoints of how movement helps students learn in academic situations, it is a child’s personal time and enhances their health and well being. Young children are not able to focus their attention for extended periods of time. Their cognitive performance will be affected if they continue to push through their academic tasks, which require focused attention for prolonged time periods. If we allow them frequent breaks before, during and after highly focused academic tasks, their performances on later tasks should prove higher results than children who have not been given these breaks. When I read this article, all I could think about was what my students do during recess. I have a particular student who is diagnosed with MS, and has a wheelchair when his muscles get tired. Well, at recess, he is almost the first one out on the playground. As I observed his movements and actions, I couldn’t help but notice how he climbed to the top of the slide, put one hand covering his forehead to block the sun and yelled out, "The pirates! The pirates are coming! Steer the boat towards land!" In no time, he had about 8 kids playing make believe with him. They were helping him down the stairs, encouraging him, and asking what to do next to save the ship. He was giving out orders like Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of The Caribbean. It was incredible. This is a child who needs his personal time to explore his mind and come up with make believe stories. School and retention is very hard for this kiddo, but when it comes to having a conversation about something happening on the make believe recess ground, he lights up with enthusiasm and pride. He is a true example of how recess is necessary for all children. I continued to observe this particular child immediately after recess, back in the classroom. He was more alert, attentive and has consistently impressed the Special Education teachers by the progress they are seeing regarding his academic successes. Don’t you like to take a coffee break and talk with your co-workers? Do you feel a little bit better when you return back to work? Yes, me too. Sometimes I even daydream about Pirates of the Caribbean or other movies I like, or should watch when I get home. We shouldn’t be robbed of this crucial academic break for our students or for ourselves. Final thoughts: Not only does recess give ample opportunities to solve problems on their own and build social skills, but it improves cognitive skills, self esteem, self control all the while keeping them healthy. You can't forget about staying healthy by running, playing and one of my favorite things to see kids experience...laughing. What more could you want for your students? Reference: Ramstetter, C. L., Murray, R., & Garner, A. S. (2010). The crucial role of recess in schools. Journal of School Health, 80(11), 517-526.
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About:Welcome to my blog! If you are interested in learning how music, movement and the brain work together, check out my summaries and reviews based on peer reviewed and research based articles. I have loved reading and learning more about how music, exercise and movement help the brain learn. I hope you enjoy it too! Archives
March 2017
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