The Role of Recess in Children's Cognitive Performance and School Adjustment

Pellegrini, Anthony D.; Bohn, Catherine M.

doi:10.3102/0013189x034001013

Cited by 182 publications

(155 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…38,39 This change may have implications on children's ability to store new in-formation, because children's cognitive capacity is enhanced by a clear-cut and significant change in activity. 35,40 A change in academic instruction or class topic does not offer this clear-cut change in cognitive effort and certainly does not offer a physical release. Even a formal structured physical education class may not offer the same benefit as free-play recess.…”

Section: The Benefits Of Playmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even a formal structured physical education class may not offer the same benefit as free-play recess. 35,41 Reduced time for physical activity may be contributing to the discordant academic abilities between boys and girls, because schools that promote sedentary styles of learning become a more difficult environment for boys to navigate successfully. 42,43 Some children are given less time for free exploratory play as they are hurried to adapt into adult roles and prepare for their future at earlier ages.…”

Section: The Benefits Of Playmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another survey a decade later found that only 70% of even kindergarten classrooms had a recess period. 35,36 Currently, many schoolchildren are given less free time and fewer physical outlets at school; many school districts responded to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 37 by reducing time committed to recess, the creative arts, and even physical education in an effort to focus on reading and mathematics. 38,39 This change may have implications on children's ability to store new in-formation, because children's cognitive capacity is enhanced by a clear-cut and significant change in activity.…”

Section: The Benefits Of Playmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds

Ginsburg¹,

Shifrin²,

Broughton³

et al. 2007

Pediatrics

1,275

658

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Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children. Despite the benefits derived from play for both children and parents, time for free play has been markedly reduced for some children. This report addresses a variety of factors that have reduced play, including a hurried lifestyle, changes in family structure, and increased attention to academics and enrichment activities at the expense of recess or free child-centered play. This report offers guidelines on how pediatricians can advocate for children by helping families, school systems, and communities consider how best to ensure that play is protected as they seek the balance in children's lives to create the optimal developmental milieu.

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Section: The Benefits Of Playmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Benefits Of Playmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Benefits Of Playmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds

Ginsburg¹,

Shifrin²,

Broughton³

et al. 2007

Pediatrics

1,275

658

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the United States, the ways in which recess is defined and implemented vary tremendously, 15 and the data available are somewhat confusing. According to an unpublished survey conducted by the American Association for the Child's Right to Play and cited in many articles, ϳ40% of public schools have eliminated or are planning to eliminate Ն1 recess period from the school day.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior

2009

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Three small studies have suggested that students without recess may have difficulty concentrating on specific tasks in the classroom, are restless, and may be easily distracted. What This Study AddsOur study examined the relationship between school recess and group classroom behavior in a nationally representative sample. This study showed that a break during the school day was associated with better TRCB scores. ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES. This study examines the amount of recess that children 8 to 9 years of age receive in the United States and compares the group classroom behavior of children receiving daily recess with that of children not receiving daily recess.METHODS. This is a secondary analysis of a public-use data set, the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998 -1999, third-grade data set. Children were categorized into 2 levels of recess exposure, that is, none/minimal break (Ͻ1 break of 15 minutes/day) or some recess. Some recess was further categorized into 5 levels on the basis of frequency and duration of recess. Child, parent, school, and classroom characteristics of those with and without recess were compared. The group classroom behavior was assessed by using the teacher's rating of class behavior.RESULTS. Complete data were available for 10 301 to 11 624 children 8 to 9 years of age. There were equal numbers of boys and girls (boys: 50.3%). Children exposed to none/minimal break (30%) were much more likely to be black, to be from families with lower incomes and lower levels of education, to live in large cities, to be from the Northeast or South, and to attend public school, compared with those with recess. Teacher's rating of classroom behavior scores were better for children with some recess than for those with none/minimal break. This finding was maintained in multivariate regression analysis. However, among children receiving daily recess, the teacher's rating of class behavior scores did not differ significantly according to the level of exposure.CONCLUSIONS. These results indicated that, among 8-to 9-year-old children, having Ն1 daily recess period of Ͼ15 minutes in length was associated with better teacher's rating of class behavior scores. This study suggests that schoolchildren in this age group should be provided with daily recess. Pediatrics 2009;123:431-436 P LAY IS WIDELY recognized as an important aspect of child development. 1-3 During free play, children increase their imagination and creativity, organize their own games, develop their own rules, learn problem-solving skills, and practice leadership. 2,3 A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics states that free unstructured play is healthy and is essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones, as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient. 1 Children need free play at home and at school. 1 The time assigned for free play at school is known as recess. Recess is defined as a break during the school day that allows children the time for ...

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“…The natural environment can also become a haven for teenagers when they are feeling down, and provide some relief for the feeling of loneliness (Korpela, 1992). Pellegrini and Bohn (2005) believed outdoor physical activities during recess can provide opportunities for students to interact with peers, and learn to adjust their thinking and accept the views of others, in order to continue to maintain and enjoy the pleasure of interacting with peers.  Disease  Vitamin D has been proven to be a benefit of contacting with nature.…”

Section: Children's Natural Landscape Experience and Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Health Benefits of Children by Different Natural Landscape Contacting Level

Tseng

Shen²

2016

E-BPJ

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Previous studies seldom explore the health benefits of different levels of nature exposure on children. 241 valid samples from five primary schools in Hsinchu, Taiwan were investigated. Results showed that comparing to being on school campuses, children would have higher levels of physical activity when visiting neighborhood parks and forest. Only the forest level natural landscape experiences have significant positive impact on enjoying nature, preferences and empathy and sense of belonging. Forest level natural landscape experiences would also positively affect mental health, and physical health is built up through physical activity. Therefore, rural natural settings would be more beneficial to children.

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The Role of Recess in Children's Cognitive Performance and School Adjustment

Cited by 182 publications

References 43 publications

The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds

The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds

School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior

The Health Benefits of Children by Different Natural Landscape Contacting Level

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