Study: More recess = better behaved kids
Don’t send them to the corner if they’re acting up. Instead, let them go outside and play.
A new study published in the February issue of Pediatrics journal advocates a daily school break of at least 15 minutes a day. Researchers examined data on 11,000 third-graders whose classroom behavior was assessed by their teachers in a questionaire. Classes that had some recess scored significantly higher in behavior than those with none or minimal playtime.
The study, by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York, backs up what doctors recommend. Free unstructured play helps kids manage stress, become resilient and keeps them healthy, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Unfortunately, many schools that serve low-income children in urban areas are cutting back recess. The emphasis on testing has also meant that time playing kickball takes a backseat to filling out worksheets. “When we restructure our education system, we have to think about the important role of recess in childhood development,” says lead researcher Dr. Romina Barros, a professor of pediatrics, in a news release. “Even if schools don’t have the space, they could give students 15 minutes of indoor activity. All that they need is some unstructured time.”
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