The Benefits of Recess
For many school-aged children, recess is the highlight of their day. The break from classroom instruction provides an opportunity for kids to reenergize as they enjoy fresh air and opportunities for creative play and socialization. Today’s playgrounds are designed to thrill and encourage imagination, which helps with cognitive development while increasing their physical activity.
Why Recess Is Important
Recess may be the only opportunity children have to get outside during the school day, so it is vitally important. Consider these facts about recess as you plan your new school playground.
Benefits of Outdoor Recess
Outdoor play is one of the best ways to encourage healthy living for kids. Some kids do not have access to outdoor play equipment once they go home. With the advent of new technologies like cell phones and video games, it can be hard to motivate kids to get outside and move around. At Miracle Recreation, we work with you to create an innovative, student-centered play experience to inspire kids to enjoy imaginative and active play.
Kids will be happier, healthier, and more socially adapted the more time they are allowed unstructured play outdoors. Other health benefits of outdoor play include greater exposure to sunlight, which is proven to elevate mood and attune kids to their natural sleep rhythms. It’s also associated with reduced stress levels and a reduced risk of developing nearsightedness.
According to the Children and Nature Network, spending time in nature is associated with increased environmental awareness. An outdoor playground will encourage kids to experience nature through their senses—sight, hearing, smell, and touch. Spending their recess playing outdoors will foster curiosity, exploration, and a sense of wonder about the natural world in your students.
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Physical Benefits of Recess
Recess is an essential part of childhood fitness. Engaging in play during recess increases the level of physical activity. This is especially important when one in five children are considered obese. Research shows that at least 20 minutes of recess daily, along with 150 minutes of physical education a week, make a measurable difference in children’s weight. Movements on playground equipment like swinging, climbing, and sliding offer a multitude of physical benefits because they engage different muscle groups.
Social Benefits of Recess
School play areas are typically created with social interaction in mind, offering spaces that encourage collaboration. Group play allows kids to take turns, cooperate and listen, among other skills. Engaging in games and imaginative play together teaches them to get along and enjoy the company of their peers. This less structured interaction lets children form connections while simultaneously learning how to communicate independently.
Even when conflicts arise on the playground, they can be important learning moments for students, as they work together to resolve their issues. Unstructured playtime during the school day affords children an opportunity to practice cooperation and getting along with others.
Cognitive and Behavioral Benefits of Recess
Recess offers children a necessary break from the structure of the classroom setting. It not only contributes to a child’s creative and social development; it can help young minds achieve their full potential. Movement and active play stimulate blood circulation, delivering more oxygen and glucose to the brain, which improves memory, attention, and concentration. Free play opportunities such as recess help optimize children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Recess improves memory, attention, and concentration
- Recess helps kids stay on task in the classroom
- Recess reduces disruptive behavior in the classroom
- Recess improves social and emotional development (e.g., learning how to share and negotiate)
Executive function skills are responsible for the parts of our brain that negotiate, plan, multitask and balance priorities. Unstructured playtime is essential for children to build executive function skills. With these skills, they are better able to solve problems and get creative with how they want to spend their time, as well as who they want to spend it with.
Research highlights the many benefits of recess for children—it’s proven to help children be active, form social connections with their classmates, and be well-positioned to learn. It’s critical that students have access to today’s thrilling play spaces that offer them opportunities to develop many crucial life skills.
Find a local Miracle Recreation sales representative near you to begin planning your school playground today.