 |
October 2005
RECESS: NECESSITY OR PRIVILEGE?
Ask almost any
child what they like most about school and they'll reply, "Recess!"
Reflecting upon my elementary school years, I'd have to agree. I
have fond memories of connections, creativity, fun, enjoyment, laughter,
games, freedom of movement and expression.
Have you ever
taken the time to observe children on the playground or at parks?
Not just watching out for their safety, but have you ever viewed
their play or activities with curiosity, wonder, interest, or with
an open mind? What did you notice?
To this day,
I still love recess. I treasure what my colleagues refer to as the
"dreaded" playground duty. I enjoy being outdoors, regardless
of the temperature, and being immersed in the playground of life.
Countless opportunities arise for meaningful connections: comforting
children's bumps or bruises, laughing at silly jokes, empathically
listening to struggles or challenges, learning hand-clapping chants,
and embracing the purposeful depth of creative dramatizations in
fantasy play. This is a child's most authentic life where they are
free to explore their environments with the fewest restrictions
possible.
VALUE OF
RECESS
Recess provides opportunities to recharge and refocus. Movement,
activity, exercise and fresh air are vital
for improving blood flow to the brain. When I am in the process
of creating a newsletter, I take frequent breaks and either dance
to music, take my canine companion for a walk, clean house (well,
I don't do this one often enough!), work in the garden, etc. When
I return to writing, I am refreshed with a new and vibrant flow
of
thoughts.
We all know
how difficult it is to accomplish even simple tasks when we haven't
had enough rest and feel sluggish. Our mind becomes foggy. Brain
function slows down when children are required to work for
consecutive hours at prolonged repetitive "sit-at-your-desk"
paper/pencil reading/writing tasks. Recess is a
brain booster and a time for rejuvenation.
In addition
to the limitless physical benefits of recess for building healthy
bodies and minds, children also gain essential social/emotional
competencies. I am in awe of the innumerable life lessons children
are living and learning while engaged in their natural environment
of play. During recess, children:
Cultivate
meaningful and valued friendships as defined by children, not
adulterated standards.
Gain greater
understanding of the freedoms of personal choice: selection of
friends; choosing where and what to do; options for quiet or active
play; preference for solitary play or with a friend or a group
of peers, etc.
Seek diversity
and novelty by playing with other children of varying ages and
varying abilities/skills creating windows of opportunities for
natural learning and acquisition of new skill sets.
Learn the
value of unstructured time and the joy of child-initiated, child-driven
activities.
Practice life
skills such as cooperation, sharing, negotiation, interaction,
resolving differences, compromise, conflict resolution, turn-taking,
mutual respect, forgiveness, interdependence, creative problem
solving, teamwork, resourcefulness, perseverance and strategic
planning (just to name a few) through games, outdoor play and
real life situations.
Expand and
enhance their communication and vocabulary skills when they listen
and speak to each other as they invent games and rules.
Discover abilities
and strengths through exploration and the willingness to risk
falling short of the mark knowing there are opportunities to try
again and again.
Exercise their
imagination, creative thinking, and sense of wonder.
Use dramatic
play and story telling/sharing to work through feelings; practice
leadership, societal and family roles; play out scenarios from
real life; and make meaning of personal experiences.
Have FUN!
Children
learn through movement and experiences. Children remember only
20% of what they hear,
30% of what they see and 90% of what they see, hear, say and DO.
Experiences that involve emotions, the senses and movement are necessary
for fostering brain development and our full range of capacities.
Research indicates that 85% of school-aged children are kinesthetic
learners where information is best taken in through movement. Being
able to explore concepts through movement stimulates the vestibular
system. This system influences all other sensory systems and our
ability to function in everyday life. When this system is stunted
and immature, children are likely to exhibit learning difficulties
and behavioral concerns.
NECESSITY
OR PRIVILEGE
Is there ANY question in your mind about the NECESSITY of recess,
play and movement? Then why have approximately 40% of U.S. elementary
schools reduced or eliminated recess? Why is recess dangled in front
of a child like a carrot, used for reward or punishment? Why are
children forced to "stand on the wall" during recess as
a form of punishment and public humiliation for incomplete work,
missing homework or
"misbehavior"? How has preparing children for test taking
and increased scores (another reason for recess removal) become
more important than the well-being of the whole child???
The National
Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends
that children ages 6-11 participate in at least one hour and up
to several hours of physical activity each and every day.
Article 31 of
the United Nations Convention on Children's Rights states that every
child has the right "to rest
and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate
to the age of the child." I suggest that we
are violating children's rights when recess is abolished or misused.
This practice must STOP!
WHAT CAN
YOU DO?
Be a voice for children. Become aware of your school district's
policy and position regarding recess. If recess is being compromised
or inappropriately used as a reward or punishment, provide your
school board or site-based council members with information that
supports the value or restoration of recess. A wonderful web site
that will provide you with information, resources, links and advocacy
is The American Association
for the Child's Right to Play.
If you are a
parent, educator or both, include outdoor play and movement in children's
daily life. I am not suggesting filling children's lives with tightly
scheduled commitments of team sports, dance classes, karate, after-school
clubs or other otherwise. Use common sense and remember to provide
balance in children's lives.
Invite children
to help you creatively design ways to integrate movement and play
across content areas and within routine tasks or chores. Turn off
electronic equipment or hand-held games that numb the spirit and
mind and deaden the body. Arizona offers a climate conducive to
the enjoyment of outdoor life. Visit parks and playgrounds frequently.
Join children in the splendor of play and discover the pleasures
of living life more fully: blow bubbles, walk in the rain, smell
flowers, be silly, be a clown, fly kites, dance and sing, climb
trees, go fishing, jump in leaf piles, have gentle pillow fights,
learn how to juggle, invent new games, build sand castles, splash
in mud puddles, take nature walks, or do anything that brings more
laughter, exuberance, joy, delight, spontaneity, zest and humor
to your life and the lives of children. Remember, that no matter
what your age, you're never too old for recess! Let's join efforts
to KEEP RECESS ALIVE!!!
When
we come together in play and be, we are truly ourselves. When we
are truly ourselves,
it is wonderful and when we act collectively in that wonder,
we do transformative work for our community and our world. Brad
Colby
Love, Light
and Joy,
Adrian Reznik
Nurture
a Child "Nuggets"
Learn more about kinesthetic (moving) learning by clicking on the
THE KINESTHETIC
LEARNER IN THE CLASSROOM
Creating
Compassionate Community for Educators
1st and 3rd Mondays in Phoenix, AZ
Creating Compassionate Community is for educators, child
care providers, teacher assistants, administrators, coaches,
social workers, or anyone else involved in the education
of children.
We will primarily be using Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent
Communication (NVC) process, often described as "the
language of the heart". NVC is a process of empathy
and honesty that helps you connect with the human spirit,
in each person, in any situation. Come join fellow educators
for community, connections and bringing a new aliveness
to the work you live.
Copyright
© 2005 Adrian Reznik
|
