July 11, 2013
Angelica Gish
Give Kids a Break Recently, schools have been shortening recess time, and some schools have been taking out recess completely. Schools have been doing this because they want to improve standardized test scores. But they aren't accounting for is that play is important to children. Just like adults, kids need breaks too. Play is important to children because it encourages moving around and being active. It's not healthy for a child to be sedentary for hours and hours. Children need their recess so that they can stretch, run, and just be active. It's important for children to have physical activity so that they can continue physical activity for future years to come. If they are to sit for long hours it encourages sedentary activity. Children need the fresh air and they need to move. It promotes an active healthy lifestyle if they are running, walking, or even playing a game. Another reason for why play is important to children is because it encourages better behavior. Children need a break because if they are sitting for hours and hours in class, they will eventually get sleepy and not pay attention anymore. They need a chance to relieve themselves of work. If they don't have a break then they will become less interested in the topics that may be important for the next standardized test which will defeat the purpose of cutting out recess time. Children will have better behavior if they are allowed a recess because they will have more energy and will pay more attention because they had a break that relieved them of all the stress and work they had to learn for a good amount of hours. In conclusion, it is better for children to have their recess time because it encourages physical activity and it allows them to have better behaviors. Schools should definitely be looking at the benefits of play because it could be detrimental for the children in the long