Recess
Education news, analysis, and opinion about breaks from the structured school day for games, play, or socializing
7 Things to Know About School Recess
Why is recess important? Here are 7 findings about recess, the role it plays in the development of children, and how it's evolved over time.
Student Well-Being
Opinion
The Amazing Power of Snowpants
Playing outside in warm clothing, using sleds and snow toys--with follow-up hot chocolate-- represented a special treat to the children at Palmer Park Academy in Detroit, courtesy of a dedicated teacher and her kind-hearted friends and colleagues. But--the children in her class deserve free play and a refreshing drink every day, year-round, as part of best pedagogical practice for very young children. The research on this is iron-clad.
Families & the Community
Florida Parent Protest Leads Local District to Require Recess
Recess returns to elementary schools in Lake County, Fla., after parents protest the lack of unstructured playtime for their children.
Student Well-Being
Study Finds Academic Benefits for Children's Physical Activities
Among both boys and girls, physical activity during recess in 1st grade was directly correlated to reading fluency through 1st and 2nd grades.
School & District Management
Recess Time Declining in Seattle Schools, Local News Outlet Finds
Eleven Seattle schools schedule only 20 minutes or less for recess each day, according to KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio.
Student Well-Being
New Book Studies 'The Art of Play'
How children play is endlessly fascinating to educators, but how do children themselves think about play?
Student Well-Being
Making the Case for Increased Playtime in Schools
A Commentary in a recent issue of Education Week makes the case that increasing playtime in schools will help improve students' focus and academic performance while cutting back on behavior issues.
School & District Management
Finland's Latest Export: A Novel Approach to Recess
In Finland, a 1st grader spends 4.5 hours a day in school, 1.5 hours of which are devoted to "unstructured outdoor play."
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Give Students Time to Play
Students need outdoor recess and movement throughout the day in order to stay focused and perform better academically, writes Debbie Rhea.
Student Well-Being
Recess Isn't Long Enough for Deep Thinking, Says Play Expert
Early-childhood experts say adults are often not giving students long enough stretches to develop their minds--especially during the school day.
Early Childhood
Recess Too Short for Analytical Thinking, Play Expert Asserts
Intense, analytical thinking begins 30 minutes after preschool-age children start recess, a University of Delaware professor asserts.
Education
Opinion
You're Not Really Thinking of Taking Away Recess, Are You?
Schools that are opting out of recess in order to provide more academic time are making a mistake that will negatively effect students for a long time.
School Climate & Safety
Report Roundup
Recess
A new study suggests children may benefit from a little more organized activity at recess.
Student Well-Being
Supervised Recess Found to Slightly Increase Students' Physical Activity
New research shows that children whose recess time is accompanied by coaches directing their play are a little more active than kids with comparatively unstructured recess.
School & District Management
Structured Recess Boosts Students' Physical Activity—a Little
Recess supervised by coaches has been shown to increase students' physical activity to an extent.
