How much recess do kids need? And how much do they get? Ask most parents, educators, and healthcare professionals; they will tell you children need far more recess time than they receive. The numbers back this sentiment up.
On average, children receive only 25 minutes of recess daily, far below the American Pediatrics Association’s recommendation of 60 minutes of daily activity for children.
Why Children Need More Recess Time
Children receive numerous benefits from recess. The American Academy of Pediatrics states flat out that recess is crucial for children’s development. Children need the opportunity to move and engage in free play. It is vital for healthy physical activity levels, social development, and academic achievement.
Despite these benefits, recess time is under attack. The Center for Education found that schools have cut recess by 60 fewer minutes a week since 2000.
The push for academic achievement often comes with the push for more time in desks. This agenda is counterintuitive. Study after study shows that children learn better with more unstructured recreation time. Recess helps students focus and reduces behavior disruptions in the classroom.
William Massey, an associate professor of kinesiology at Oregon State University, explains, “The way our brains work, you can’t go hours at a time and retain and store information in working memory.”
In other words, children learn more when they have more breaks.
Concerning Facts About Recess
Not only is recess time important and being removed from school schedules, but research has found some additional troubling trends.
- As many as 86 percent of teachers take recess time away as punishment for behavior.
- Children of color, on average, receive less recess time and are far more likely to receive no recess at all.
- Only nine states require daily recess in schools.
- 17% of elementary schools do not offer daily recess.
- Average weekly recess time has decreased by around 60 minutes since the early 2000s.
- Recess time declines with age. Middle and high schoolers are far less likely to receive the recommended amount of recess.