Do You Need Recess?

    Madeleine Hamilton was bursting with excitement. The principal of her school in Franklin, Tennessee, had just made a big announcement : Recess was coming back.

    Madeleine and her sixth-grade classmates would go outside for 20 minutes every day. They could work on new jump rope tricks. They could catch up with friends and kick a soccer ball around. 

    Most middle school students don’t get that chance. That’s because most middle schools don’t have recess anymore. Experts say that about 40 percent of U.S. school districts have cut back on recess time—or cut recess entirely. 

    Now, more and more experts agree: Schools should put recess back on the schedule.

    Madeleine Hamilton was excited. An announcement had been made at her Tennessee school: Recess was coming back.

    Madeleine and her sixth-grade classmates would go outside for 20 minutes a day. 

    They could jump rope. They could catch up with friends. They could play soccer. 

    Most middle school students don’t get that chance. That’s because most middle schools don’t have recess anymore. Experts say that nearly half of U.S. school districts have shortened recess time or cut it entirely. 

    Now, many experts agree: Schools should bring recess back.

    Madeleine Hamilton was bursting with excitement. The principal of her school in Franklin, Tennessee, had just made a big announcement: Recess was coming back.

    Madeleine and her sixth-grade classmates would get to go outside for 20 minutes every day. 

    They could practice new jump rope tricks, catch up with friends, and kick a soccer ball around. 

    Most middle school students don’t get that chance, because most middle schools don’t have recess anymore. Experts say that about 40 percent of United States school districts have reduced recess time—or eliminated recess entirely.

    Now, an increasing number of experts are saying that schools should put recess back on the schedule.

    Students have been heading outside for recess since at least the 1800s. But in the 1980s, some U.S. schools started to cut recess. Why? 

    American students weren’t doing as well in school as students in other countries. To catch up, many schools in the U.S. got rid of recess. This made more time in the schedule for important subjects like science and math.

    But research shows that taking a break can actually help students learn. How can 20 minutes of kickball or talking with friends help you with algebra? 

    Your brain can get overwhelmed when you move from subject to subject without a break. That makes it harder for you to remember new information. Scientists say that resting your brain helps it work better. 

    Even adults have started taking breaks to rest their brains—and play. At Google, employees can stop working to use the office’s LEGO® station. And workers at Facebook can play video games in the company’s arcade. 

    Students have been going out for recess since at least the 1800s. But in the 1980s, some U.S. schools started to cut recess. Why? 

    American students weren’t doing as well in school as students in other countries. To catch up, many schools in the U.S. got rid of recess. This made more time for subjects like science and math.

    But research shows that taking a break can actually help kids learn. How can playing kickball or talking with friends help you with math? 

    Your brain can get tired when you move from subject to subject with no breaks. That makes it harder to learn. Experts say that resting your brain helps it work better. 

    Even adults have started taking breaks to rest their brains. Some use the time to play. At Google, workers can use a LEGO® station. At Facebook, there’s an arcade. 

    Students have been heading outside for recess since at least the 1800s—but in the 1980s, some U.S. schools started to cut recess. Why? 

    American students weren’t performing as well academically as students in other countries. To help students catch up, many schools in the U.S. got rid of recess to make more time in the schedule for important subjects like science and math.

     But research shows that taking a break can actually help students learn. How can shooting hoops or socializing help you understand algebra?

    Your brain can become overwhelmed when you move from subject to subject without a break. That makes it more difficult for you to remember new information. Scientists say that resting your brain helps it work better. 

    Even adults have started taking breaks to recharge their brains—and to play. Google employees enjoy the office’s LEGO® station, and workers at Facebook play video games in the company’s arcade.  

    Recess doesn’t just help students learn. Moving around can also help keep kids healthy. People who exercise daily can avoid depression, or extreme sadness. They are also less likely to become obese, or very overweight. 

    Doctors say kids should be active for at least 60 minutes a day. But middle schoolers often juggle after-school activities, homework, and family time. That makes it tough to fit in exercise—unless you can run around at recess.  

    Recess doesn’t just help students learn. Moving around can also help keep kids healthy. Daily exercise can prevent depression (extreme sadness). It can also help keep kids from becoming obese (very overweight). 

    Doctors say kids should be active for at least an hour a day. But middle school kids are busy. They have after-school activities. They have homework and family time. Making time for exercise can be hard. Recess can help.  

    In addition to helping students learn, recess can have significant health benefits. Daily exercise can help prevent depression, or extreme sadness. It can also reduce the likelihood that students will become obese, or very overweight. 

    Doctors say kids should be physically active for a minimum of 60 minutes per day. But middle schoolers often juggle after-school activities, homework, and family time. It can be difficult to fit in exercise—except maybe at recess.  

    Of course, kids can get hurt playing sports like dodgeball. Some schools have cut recess to avoid sprained ankles and broken wrists. 

    Schools also need adults to keep students safe on the playground during recess. Some schools can’t afford to pay anyone to do this job. 

    Plus, 73 percent of school-age kids in America play sports or do other athletic activities after school. Do they really need to take time out of jam-packed school days for recess?

    Madeleine thinks so. “Recess is the one break in the day to relax and have fun,” she says. 

    What do you think? Does recess belong on the schedule?

    Of course, kids can get hurt playing sports. Some schools have cut recess to keep kids from being injured. 

    Schools also need adults to keep students safe during recess. Some schools can’t afford to pay people to do this job. 

    Plus, nearly three-fourths of school-age kids in the U.S. do athletic activities after school. Do they really need to take time out of the school day for recess?

    Madeleine thinks so. “Recess is the one break in the day to relax and have fun,” she says. 

    What do you think? Does recess belong on the schedule?

    Of course, kids can get hurt playing sports like dodgeball. Some schools have eliminated recess to prevent injuries.

    Schools also need adults to supervise and keep students safe on the playground during recess, and some schools can’t afford to pay people to do this. 

    In America, 73 percent of school-age kids participate in sports or do other athletic activities after school. Is it really necessary for them to take time out of the busy school day for recess?

    Madeleine thinks so. “Recess is the one break in the day to relax and have fun,” she explains. What do you think? Should recess be included in the school day?