Importance of Recess

  • Recess is more than just fun and games. It helps our little scholars learn how to think creatively, make friends, share, negotiate and resolve conflicts on their own. Research shows that recess also helps them focus and learn better. Recess also gives them a change apply skills they are learning in PE class.

    But despite all the documented benefits (and anecdotal ones), recess often gets written off as a time that would be better spent on academics. In fact, up to 40 percent of U.S. school districts have reduced or eliminated recess in order to free up more time for other subjects. But, perhaps counterintuitively, that actually comes at a cost to learning.

    Reading, writing, and arithmetic: we're not questions our importance. But it's time to take play seriously, too. (Published by Parents for Healthy Kids, 2018)