A Crucial Time For Children

To go along with and reinforce the reoccurring theme on this blog of playtime for children, a post about the health benefits of recess for children only seemed appropriate. Rae Pica, a children’s physical activity specialist did some research about why children should not be denied the right to play time. Here are a few reasons:

1. Recess reduces stress. When children are allowed to have unstructured play time, their imaginations are set free. When they are allowed to use their imaginations under no set boundaries, stress levels decrease, which plays a major role in their abilities to focus in the classroom. When time is given for them to explore, they are able to sit down in class and learn more effectively.
2. Recess develops social skills. Recess is one of the only times in a child’s day when they are allowed to socialize among their peers and classmates without being told what they need to talk about. There are no restrictions to their conversations. In these conversations, they are able to learn from one another without the pressures of the classroom.
3. Exercise is key. Besides physical education class that typically occurs once a week, children have no other time throughout the school day to run around and get their daily exercise in. Some kids do take part in after school sports or neighborhood activities, but the school system cannot control what children do once they leave the school. With the technology exists today, this generation of children rarely puts down their electronic devices to go outside and play. Why not make the most of the time that you can control and have them get outside for recess?

While there are many other reasons why a child’s right to recess should not be taken away, these are some of the most important ones. Overall, playtime is crucial to a child’s stress levels, focus in the classroom, social skills, and health.