Lazar Finker On New Elementary School Recess Laws

In a school system that frequently promotes raising standardized test scores above anything else, it can be hard for educators to justify the time spent on other pursuits. Still, for years, time set aside for recess has been a staple of many elementary schools. While physical education classes have also become a prominent way for schools to promote wellness and exercise, there is also vocal support for the benefits of unstructured play time.

Recess advocates have made their voices heard. In the fall of 2017, Florida lawmakers incorporated a mandatory 20 minutes of recess into school schedules. Other states such as Rhode Island have passed similar laws, giving school districts the responsibility to find a time for recess as they see fit. While these measures have enjoyed support from parents, education administrators have been hard-pressed to find a window to incorporate recess.

However, it may be that unstructured play time is essential to social and cognitive development for children. This is not a new idea, but a recent emphasis on standardized testing as an indication of student progress has led to schools cutting recess time in favor of more classroom schooling. Scientific studies have reinforced what many have long since suspected, finding that 8- to 9-year-old children with at least fifteen minutes of recess per day exhibited better discipline in the classroom.

It doesn’t take a scientific study to realize that play is an essential part of childhood development; it flourishes among children regardless of their environment. Though almost every elementary school had time set aside for recess as of 1989, the number has continued to decline decades later. Again, this is not maliciousness on part of educators; merely an attempt to better manage time spent. But we continue to see evidence of the benefits of playtime, especially when obesity levels among children continue to climb. Setting a precedent for physical activity may spur children to stay healthy later in life. Beyond that, recess may even bolster the test scores that schools have become hard-pressed to meet; with the CDC reporting that academic performance improved with regular recess time.

And this sort of playtime behavior doesn’t just exist in humans; among other animals, particularly primates, play among children facilitates cognitive development through puberty, typically declining in adulthood. An increase in mental health problems in today’s youth, including depression and anxiety, may point to a lack of exercise as one of the culprits.

Interestingly enough, being able to play freely seems to be just as important as playing at all. Though physical education classes remain an important part of primary school curriculum and provide many of the same physical benefits that recess does, the structured approach often lacks its social aspects.

Providing recess time isn’t something that detracts from a child’s education. In fact, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that it’s quite the opposite. With the decline of playtime for children, other states should consider following the example of Florida and others, and strive to endow them with the time necessary to play and form a lifelong love of physical activity.