Study published in Pediatrics Demonstrates the Academic Benefits of Recess
A study in the February 2009 issue of the journal Pediatrics entitled “School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior” suggests that there are a number of measurable academic benefits in school programs that offer their students recess. Although the full article is only available to journal subscribers, Tara Parker Pope summarizes the research well in an article in the February 24th NY Times.
Why is recess so important? Some fairly obvious and direct reasons are mentioned in the articles above: the need for time for the brain to recharge after focused academic time and the benefits of learning the social cues which are much more clearly expressed in play than they are in structured studying.
Recess is also critically important because creative play teaches young children the skills needed for true learning: risk taking, observation, and trial and error. Each of these skills flourish on the playground and in preschool creative play centers, forming the healthy foundation for reading, writing and math skills. Scientists, diplomats and commercial innovators are formed on the playground.
Noted child psychologist and early childhood education researcher Vivian Gussin Paley calls story and play the “original learning tools.” Recess builds not only the muscles of children’s arms and legs, but the creative muscles of the mind. If we carefully nurture the development of those latter muscles, we will raise a generation of students who grow up to be inventive, creative thinkers.
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