While most school districts across the country are cutting back on recess time and ramping up the Ritalin, one Texas school has kindergartners and first graders sitting still and “incredibly attentive.”
What’s their secret? Their recess time has tripled.
According to Today, “the Eagle Mountain Elementary in Fort Worth, Texas, has been giving kindergarten and first-grade students two 15-minute recess breaks every morning and two 15-minute breaks every afternoon to go play outside. At first teachers were worried about losing the classroom time and being able to cover all the material they needed with what was left, but now that the experiment has been going on for about five months, teachers say the kids are actually learning more because they’re better able to focus in class and pay attention without fidgeting.”
The children always go outside to play games or use the swings and slides, even if it’s drizzly or cold.
The LiiNK website says benefits of frequent recess include:
- Increased attentional focus
- Improved academics
- Improved attendance
- Decreased behavioral diagnoses (anxiety, ADHD, anger)
- Improved creativity and social skill development
