Investing in Healthy Recess to Nurture the Whole Child
Post submitted by Jill Vialet, founder and CEO of whole child partner Playworks
A healthy, positive school environment transcends what goes on in the classroom. In fact, what happens at recess holds a critical key to developing the whole child. A school that provides time and space for students to run, talk, and play helps to ensure every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Experience and research tell us that active students learn better, and daily recess is proven to help studentsfocus in the classroom.
Unfortunately, recess can also be a headache. Elementary school principals say they face the most behavior issues at recess. Recess supervision can be challenging, compounding the stresses on a staff already spread thin with other responsibilities. And the demands on the schoolyard really are greater than we remember, with students often relying more on adult support in solving conflicts and many children stepping onto the playground knowing fewer games than did previous generations.
Investing in recess can lessen playground headaches and a recent study shows it can even contribute to the overall school climate. Playworks is a national nonprofit that works across the country leveraging recess and play to promote learning and physical activity. By providing both a direct service