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It is warranted for you to worry about your child not being able to partake in recess at school. Most of the time, the reason for this is poor judgement or behavior on the part of a child. Teachers or administrators in many schools withhold recess as a form of punishment for infractions such as being tardy, failure to complete homework, or acting out in class. This can cover a wide area of behavioral issues and at some point, any child can go a day without recess.

The research has been done, and it shows that African-American as well as all school-aged children need recess. The benefits of which range across the developmental domains. The following are seven solid reasons why recess can lead to intellectual, social, emotional, and physical success; therefore, it should not be denied.

1. Everyone needs a break.

Dating as far back as 1885, the research is clear and shows that both adults and children learn better and quicker when their efforts are distributed (with breaks included) than when concentrated (working longer periods). The novelty-arousal theory suggests that people function better when they have a change of pace. Since young African-American children do not process information as effectively as older children (due to the immaturity of their nervous system and lack of experience), they especially are the ones who benefit the most from this and need the breaks.

2.“Recess increases on-task time.

“Dr. Olga Jarrett and her colleagues approached an urban school district with a policy against recess. They received permission for two fourth-grade classes to have recess once a week so they could determine the impact on the children’s behavior on recess and non-recess days. The result was that the 43 children became more on-task and less fidgety on days when they had recess. Sixty percent of the children, including the five suffering from attention deficit disorder, worked more and/or fidgeted less on recess days. Dr. Jarrett’s research demonstrated that a 15-minute recess resulted in the children’s being 5 percent more on-task and 9 percent less fidgety, which translated into 20 minutes being saved during the day.” (Social Growth)

3. Children need to be exposed to the outdoor light.

The sun and light from outside stimulates the pineal gland. This is the part of the brain that helps regulate the biological clock, which is vital for the immune system. Children will not be able to fight off viruses and infections without sunlight. Sunlight is necessary in order to trigger the synthesis of vitamin D in the body. A number of studies have demonstrated that it can also increase academic learning and productivity.

4. Physical play that is not structured reduces stress in Black children.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends that children should have unstructured physical play as a developmentally appropriate means of reducing stress in a child’s life. Furthermore, studies show that stress has a negative impact on the learning process and on a child’s overall health. While outdoors, children get a feeling of being free. They are able to engage in loud and messy play without worry about consequences. It is their chance to be in charge of the things that they decide to and not to do—something that is very rare in their lives.

5. Children need to learn to engage and socialize with their peers.

Recess is the perfect time for children to get to know one another and to explore their surroundings. They learn to talk to each other and share their likes and dislikes. Most classroom settings do not allow children to talk among themselves and be social with their neighbors. Their socializing is often very limited in the classroom.

6. Health risks are greater in Black children with little physical activity.

With African-Americans being at risks for hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, it is more important than ever for children to be allowed to get out during recess. There are numerous amounts of children who are suffering from being overweight and obese, and the outdoors is the perfect place for them to burn calories. Research has even shown that children who are physically active in school are more likely to be physically active at home. Moreover, children who don’t have the opportunity to be active during the school day don’t usually compensate during after-school hours.

7. Physical activity fuels the brain.

Due to the advances in brain research, we know that the brain is activated during physical activities, instead of when it is idle. Movement increases the capacity of blood vessels which allows for the delivery of water, glucose, and oxygen to the brain. All of this is the food and fuel that the brain needs to stay healthy and perform at its best. Children tend to have better academic process when they are more active.

Children who sit for more than 10 minutes at a time are at risk for being tired throughout the day. Some cannot concentrate well and these are the children who are most likely to disrupt a classroom. So, when coming up with a plan for disciplinary actions for your child, find another method of punishment instead of taking away their recess time.

Source:

Self Growth