Seven Things You Can Do to Save Recess
by
Rae Pica
www.movingandlearning.com
I’ve discovered that my son’s school is abusing the daily recess
time and I want to do something about it….His teachers are using recess
to punish kids. For example, if they either forget to bring in homework
or fail to do it, they miss recess. If they misbehave, they miss recess.
Any of his teachers have the power to deny recess...
Father of a 5th-grade student
Today I was taken out of class and called before the principal and
his assistant to be questioned about my practice of rewarding good
behavior and hard work with “extra recess.” I was told I am NO LONGER
allowed to do this except as a very rare exception as our students have
a short enough day as it is….HELP!!!
3rd-grade teacher
At the beginning of every new school year, more and more parents
discover that recess is disappearing from the landscape of their
children’s school days. If this is the case for you – and you’ve seen
the impact it has on your child – following are seven steps you can take
to fight this trend.
1. Do your homework. First, find out about recess at
your child’s school. Do they have it? How often does it occur? How long
does it last? What happens on the playground? Find out from other
parents what their children are experiencing. Are children ever kept
from recess? Why?
2. Be sensitive. When talking with your child’s
classroom teacher, remember that most teachers today are under
tremendous pressure to achieve nearly impossible objectives. They could
use a break, too.
3. Don’t go it alone. One concerned parent can be
considered a rabble-rouser, but several concerned parents have
influence. Recruit the parents of your children’s friends and
classmates. Contact the president of the schools’ parent or
parent/teacher organization to discuss your concerns. With the help of
the association, set up a meeting with the school’s principal.
4. Do some more homework. If you don’t like the answers
you’re receiving and you want to bring about change, you’ll need backup
in the form of research and respected professionals. Go to the websites
of the American Association for the Child’s Right to Play (www.ipausa.org)
and Rescuing Recess (www.rescuingrecess.com)
and use the information they provide. If possible, find a local
professional who feels strongly about the need for recess and play in
early childhood and recruit him or her to address school administrators
and/or the school board if necessary.
5. Educate. Make copies of the information you’ve
accumulated, highlighting the important points, and distribute them
among administrators, faculty, and other parents. Whenever possible,
speak one-on-one with teachers, school board members, and parents.
6. Alert the media. Write letters to the editors of the
local newspapers, submit an opinion piece, or just call and tell them
your story. Contact local radio and television stations. Invite a
television feature reporter to experience recess with your child. Or, if
your child’s school has no recess, invite the reporter to join your
child’s class for a day without breaks.
7. Thing big. Work with your elected officials and
school board members to ensure recess is available for every child every
day in every school. Ask your PTA to include, within its state
resolutions, recess as a mandatory part of each school day. Become a
recess advocate for your state. You can learn how at the website of the
American Association for the Child’s Right to Play. There you’ll find a
comprehensive packet – free – to anyone who asks.
About the Author:
Rae Pica is a children’s physical activity specialist and the author of
A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity, and Free Time Create a
Successful Child. You can visit her at
www.movingandlearning.com and hear her interviews with experts in
the fields of early childhood education, motor development, the
neurosciences, and more at
www.bodymindandchild.com
