Rip Up Recess Rules and Reap the Benefits

No recess rules?! Does this sound astonishing to you? A school in New Zealand has ripped up the recess rules and now has a drop in bullying, serious injuries, and vandalism while creativity and learning are increasing - and behavior problems disappearing. Could this happen in the United States? You simply must watch this video where students are climbing trees, riding skateboards, playing bullrush (a tag and tackle game), playing with sticks, and having mudslides! Just click on Bullrush Returns to Schools to view, but I hope you will come back here to read my section: The Benefits of Relaxing Recess Rules.



How did this happen that school recess rules were done away with completely? Swanson Primary School was one of eight schools that decided to participate in a study by Aucland University of Technology (AUT) and Otago University. The aim of the two year study was to encourage active play. But Swanson Primary decided to do away with the rules entirely, as the principal and some teachers were inspired remembering their childhood free play. 

The Facts about Recess and Academics

Recess is being scaled back or eliminated from many elementary schools. Among the reasons are increased pressure for higher academic scores. 

But at what cost? Are scores increasing as recess decreases? 

No. In fact, studies are concluding that physical activity can improve cognitive learning, increase neuron connections, and decrease inappropriate behavior in the classroom, as well as the obvious benefit of improving physical health.

Remember when we had three recesses a day - one in the morning, one after lunch and one in the afternoon? Esther Entin, M.D. states "Since the late 1970's children have lost 12 hours a week in free time, a 25% decrease in play and 50% decrease in unstructured outdoor activities." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's physical activity guidelines recommend that children do an hour or more of moderate-intensity to vigorous activity a day. The Institute of Medicine advises that at least 30 minutes, or about half the daily physical activity, be done during the school day. Yet only about 11 percent of states and 57 percent of districts require elementary schools to provide students with regularly scheduled recess, according to CDC.
 
Research confirms that recess can play an important role in the learning, social development, and health of elementary school children.