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Dr Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego earning a B S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a B A in Political Science He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
FAST FACTS
I often ask my younger patients their favorite class at school. Some may say math, others science, and maybe one or two will say the occasional English, but the one class that stands above all else is recess. And while I admit it would be a breath of fresh air to hear that long division and spelling is their motivation in life, I always appreciate honesty first and foremost and so if recess tops the list, then so be it. Now my initial instinct tells me this is so because it is an opportunity to hang out with friends and talk about everything not classroom related, but maybe something else is going on here. Maybe, just maybe, children realize the true benefit of recess extends into the classroom...where they may be better behaved if they are given a 15-20 minute break each morning.
And now Dr. Romina Barros and colleagues have just published a study in the journal Pediatrics concluding this is more than likely the case. Specifically, these researchers analyzed a large data set of children 8 to 9 years of age (a population size of greater than 10,000) and found the teacher's rating of classroom behavior (a rating scale from 1 to 5) was better for children who had a recess vs. those who had none (or just a very short one). Furthermore, the researchers determined 30% of this large population size had no recess or one less than 15 minutes a day and of these children with no or minimal recess, nearly 2/3 of them had physical education no more than 2x per week...something in itself unacceptable...and something I've touched upon before...http://dailystrength.org/blog/246-childhood-obesity-importance.
So at least 15 minutes of recess a day is all that is being asked for here. And with these daily 15 minutes, maybe our children will more easily reach social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones and ultimately be better able to handle the stressors of life, no matter the age they encounter them...something already preached by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
And although this study did not study adults, I am wondering if a 20 minute recess might be a good thing for all of us...whether we be in the workplace, classroom, or at home with our children. I'm already a believer of the afternoon nap for just about everyone, why not a recess period as well?
Dr. Jeremy
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Displaying comments 13-1 of 13
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Kids do need a breather, and they need to live for now(in the moment) instead of always worrying what's due in 5 minutes or tommorow.
When they get to talk to their friends they form better relationships, too.
So being 14...I think it would really help high school students and adults like you said, and especially ADHD people who benifit a lot from being outside.
Everyone would benifit from recess! That's a really good idea!
Kayla ;D
When I was seven, I wanted to be an entemologist. Then one day I turned 8. At the beginning of the third grade (which may or may not have been the most important grade for me) I started wanting to become a Jungle Girl. My teacher told me that was not a career path and I said but it's my path and I want to take it.
They would always put me in the chior but it would always be the guy hiding in the shadows who I would end up helping out because when I see shadows I feel an obligation to fill them with something just for fun.
I want to help a whole lot of people out some day and I have the schooling and exerience to do it. Now all I need is one thing and one thing alone... to return to Beautiful British Columbia where I will live out my days in peace and harmony as a writer or a corporate philanthropist, I havn't decided. Maybe a Corporate philanthropst who likes music and writing poetry...?
Anyways I have gone all the way from recess all the way around to stuff that happened to me in Elementary school but I guess it was expected that I may or may not get off topic from time to time?
It really stresses my husband out when I am funny random weird crazy as opposed to "Dangerous" going to HURT something or herself always being convinced that I am going against him when really I just get sick of his bitching about how great the world would be if there was no one in it.
Sorry Bluebird... I don't sing that song... I would much prefer to sing a song of six pence with a pocket full of pie.
recess is not just for kids.....
I believe recess is vip to students, especially in grade school. During 3rd grade I had a teacher that would not allow our class to go outdoors for recess if anyone, just one person, acted up during class. Instead of going out, we had to lay our heads down on our desk. Being from parents who told me I was to seen and not heard, I never dared to act up in class but I still feel resentment for that 3rd grade teacher! If only one of the other kid's who had reasonable parents would have complained about our almost entire year without recess maybe this teacher would have let us outside where we could laugh and play just for 15 minutes.
Sandra