Recess rules!

Monday January 26, 2009

On these freezing cold days, one of the first things I ask my kids after school is "Did you get to play outside today?" If the weather hasn't cooperated, they've had indoor recess, which, in my opinion, is just about equal to no recess at all (they stay in the classroom—not the gym or other large, open space).

I'll bet most parents and teachers would agree with me that kids really need that running-around time, and new research published today in the journal Pediatrics backs us up. A study of more than 10,000 kids in 3rd grade found that those who got at least one recess period a day, of at least 15 minutes or longer, had better classroom behavior than 3rd-graders who got less recess time or none at all (and that group, sadly, came to 30% of the total).

The American Academy of Pediatrics (publishers of the journal) noted in its press release, "Presently, many schoolchildren are given less free time and fewer physical outlets at school because many school districts responded to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 by reducing time committed to recess ... The available research indicates that recess may play an important role in the social development, learning and health of children in elementary school." So let's be sure to let 'em play!

_{Photo courtesy Erica Greis}