Source 2: According to Pediatricians, Recess is Best
The American Academy of Pediatrics, or the AAP, is an organization made up of pediatricians, or doctors who specialize in treating babies, children, and teens. The
mission of the AAP is to keep its patients of all ages as healthy and safe as possible.
You might wonder why a bunch of doctors would chime in on the recess debate. It turns out, they have a lot to say on this matter. They strongly believe that students need recess, and they consider recess “a crucial and necessary component of a child’s development.” Some people believe that recess takes away from academics. However, the AAP argues it benefits a child’s cognitive abilities, which means it actually improves how well a student does academically. Brain science tells us that in order for new learning to cement itself in the brain, people need a break or a rest from focused concentration. Recess provides just this break. Also, when students are required to sit still for too long, they have a harder time focusing and paying attention to important details. Recess is a much needed break in the structure of the day.
In addition to cognitive or academic benefits, recess also improves social and emotional skills in children. Recess gives students the chance to interact with their
peers on their own terms, without the structure and rules of the classroom. They learn valuable communication skills. They also have a chance to practice cooperation, negotiation, and sharing. By giving children a chance to tackle physical and social
challenges, recess improves perseverance and self-control as well. These are all skills that will benefit students for the rest of their lives.
Another major benefit of recess is that it promotes a healthy, active lifestyle. Whether climbing, swinging, or just walking with friends, recess gets kids moving.
While not all children run races at recess, it still gives kids a chance to move for the fun of it. Recess has different benefits than a PE class in that it is unstructured. Unlike PE class, kids get to choose how and when they practice their motor skills. Recess
also encourages creativity and play. Moreover, students spend a lot of class time sitting in desks. This can contribute to a sedentary, or inactive, lifestyle. Recess can counteract this and help students develop more active habits.
According to the AAP, “Recess is a necessary break in the day for optimizing a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.” It should be safe, supervised, and given to all children regardless of their behavior or whether or not they handed in their homework. The AAP is dedicated to the health of children, and it strongly believes that recess is a must.