Why Is Recess A Waste Of Time

Right now, in America, one in every three children and teens are considered obese or overweight. That number has over tripled since 1971 (American Heart Association). A longer recess would be more beneficial for the young students because it would give the children more social time, it could calm the students minds, which would reduce stress, and most of all, because physical fitness is important for children to keep them healthy. Although some people think that recess is a waste of time, and the students could be doing work, studies show that exercise, and social time is helpful for the kids. One reason that a longer recess would be more helpful for the children is because recess gives the kids a time to interact with their friends, and gives them some social time. For example, an article
Children are sitting at a desk for about five to six hours per day, so eliminating recess all together, would make it very hard on the kids. It also serves as a chance for the students to exercise. For example, according to an article, “Recess is important so kids get a break from sitting at their desks," said one principal from Virginia. "They get up and move.” This shows how recess is a necessity for children so they can get up and exercise. According to Renee Schoof, in Olly Olly in Free!' Time for School Recess to Come Out of Hiding?, the article says, “But millions of kids aren't getting the recommended 20 minutes of burn-off-some-steam time every day, surveys show, let alone the 60 minutes of daily physical activity that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say children and adolescents need.” This shows how kids aren’t getting the recommended time of physical fitness when they get home, so the school should give the kids longer recess so they are closer to that