The Importance of Daily Recess in Our Schools
As our students return for the first day of school this upcoming week, I wanted to discuss the importance of daily recess. As a mom of 5 energetic children ranging from 2nd grade through high school, I know how abrupt this transition can be for families: kids go from being active all summer to sitting at a desk most of the day.
In our pursuit of academic excellence, we must not overlook the importance of recess in our public schools. Recess isn't just a break from learning; rather, it's a vital component of a well-rounded education that promotes physical, social, and emotional growth in students. Research shows that there are numerous benefits to a daily recess period for our elementary, middle, and high school students.
First and most obvious, daily recess provides students with the opportunity to engage in physical activity, promoting overall health and wellness. A recent study found that school recess can contribute up to 70% of a child’s weekday physical activity. And this time for recess is sorely needed: according to the CDC, over three-quarters of children between the ages of 6-17 do not get the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous daily physical activity. There are numerous potential harmful medical consequences from physical inactivity, including an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, becoming overweight or obese, increasing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and developing various types of cancers later in life.
Second, contrary to the common misconception that recess negatively impacts academic achievement by taking away from instructional time, research suggests the opposite. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “optimal cognitive processing in a child necessitates a period of interruption after a period of concentrated instruction.” As a result, students are more attentive and more productive during class if they have break time between tasks to play and engage in physical activity. This positive relationship is also borne out by student test scores. In a meta-analysis regarding the connection between recess and academic performance, the CDC concluded there was substantial evidence that “physical activity can help improve academic achievement, including grades and standardized test scores.”
Third, daily recess promotes students’ social and emotional growth. During recess, students interact with their peers in ways that a regular classroom setting may not allow, helping them build essential social skills by learning to cooperate, negotiate, and solve conflicts independently. It also can help improve students’ mental health, as brain research has shown that regular exercise helps reduce anxiety and depression.
I am committed to advocating for the holistic development of all of our ACPS students. As a school board member, I will work tirelessly to ensure that our students have daily recess breaks, which are important to both their academic achievement and their physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
