Recess

April 2023

Today I was driving to a lab to get a blood test. Nothing serious, just a requirement for my annual physical. The route I take to this lab just happens to drive by two elementary schools. My timing today as I passed both institutions coincided with the children being out for recess. It was a beautiful spring day, and the kids were obviously enjoying themselves.  Which gave me pause to ponder this timeless, daily school event. 

At first, I was amused about how little had changed from my own recess days, which were literally more than a half century ago.  I nearly gasped as I did that math in my head!  It is amazing how quickly time passes. Regardless of this, many of the activities the kids were engaged in, seemed almost identical to those embedded in my memory from my own childhood school days. 

The children were still on the swings, some just sitting while others challenged the laws of gravity and common sense by going far too high. Other kids were on the slide, the monkey bars, and the spinning platform I can never recall the name of. Likely due to PTSD from too many times being made dizzy and sick on one as a child.

Additional children were playing kickball and four square, other games I recalled enjoying as a child.  Some kids just seemed to be ambling around in small groups or pairs.  Appearing to be chatting aimlessly about whatever it is that kids talk about these days.

All of this gave me a bit of a warm and fuzzy feeling about the recesses of my past, and how much joy they had brought to me.  But as I thought about it, they gave me much more than just joy.  I recalled times of fear and anger, and certainly pain, both physical and emotional.  There were also conflicts and resolutions. More than a few bruises. My first kiss. Even a fistfight or two. An entire range of experiences.

Yes, my school recesses were truly multi-functional. Undeniably offering me strong recollections of a mixed bag of emotions and feelings.  I learned a great deal on the playground.  Everyone in my generation did.  I’m almost certain they offer much the same lessons for kids nowadays. Likely modulated somewhat to today’s more civilized times. 

When I got home, of course, I dove a little deeper into the practice of school recess.  I was interested in discovering its origins and current thoughts on the practice. Let me just say, this exercise was an epiphany! Something that made me ponder much more than just recess.  

It seems the origin of school recesses dates to the 17th century.  So, they’ve been around for a long time. Credit is given to John Brinsley, who suggested that “children benefit both physically and mentally when given a break in the school day”. An educator named Luther Gulick also advocated for physical education and “unstructured play” within the school curriculum. From this, recess was born. At least as a theory.

The credit for officially testing this theory goes to a man named Ephraim Ely. In New York City in 1837 he implemented the concept.  He was testing that, “allowing children some time to play freely would improve their behavior and attentiveness in the classroom”. This became so successful that it spread quickly throughout the city, the state, and inevitably all over the world. Showing how a good idea could proliferate, even before television and the internet!

As I read further, I was startled by the fact that current thinking has greatly evolved. Especially in the last several decades.  It seems that now in schools, even in the earliest years when children are only five to ten years old, there is an increased focus on teaching more challenging curricula, to meet the demand to raise test scores. This has become a driving force for some school districts to eliminate recess. This is happening in a variety of states in the US already. Shocking to say the least. At least to me! I couldn’t believe this would possibly catch on.

Yet, as I continued to review the abundant information on this subject, I was amazed how far this has already gone. Yes, an increased emphasis on academic achievement is the primary cause. Yet, many school districts have reported other reasons for cutting back on the practice of recess.  They cite budget cuts, as recess is seen as an expensive, non-essential activity.  One that can easily be eliminated to save money.  There are also safety concerns, and cutting back on recess seems to mitigate these. It appears that inadequate supervision creates risks of injury on playground equipment. Fear of litigation is cited as a major concern.

Reports also suggest that some schools may not have adequate outdoor space to provide a safe and acceptable recess experience for all students.  They also discussed weather-related issues, such as rain, snow, heat and how these conditions often limit the amount of time students can spend outside during recess.

I call bullshit on all of this!  Firstly, rain, sleet, snow, wind, heat, or any other atmospheric condition rarely kept children from taking a recess for centuries.  Using common sense of course.  So that last one is crazy.  Also, how much budget can it take to let kids play?  Truthfully, the equipment on a playground is nice, but if it cannot be afforded, kids tend to make do.  That truly is the point, isn’t it?

And we are not just talking about physical benefits here, which kids nowadays sorely need.  It’s hard not to mention social development.  Recess provides children with an opportunity to interact with other kids and develop social skills.  They learn to cooperate, communicate, and empathize. These social skills are important for building positive relationships and navigating social situations. The playground offers a unique forum to hone skills like this.  Abilities children will use, literally, for the rest of their lives!

During recess time children often play games involving teamwork.  In the process, using many leadership skills.  They create and teach other children games to play, they learn how to take turns, they disagree and develop skills that help them with conflict resolution.  All of this while playing and interacting!  This “unstructured” play also promotes creativity, problem-solving, and social development. Again, skills they will use for the rest of their life!  You get the point!

So, it seems the initial theory and reasoning for the concept of recess is still strong.  That a daily break from academic burdens allows kids to release pent-up energy, reduce their stress levels and potentially even promote emotional well-being. I can’t help but believe it also helps to improve attention, memory, and in turn, academic performance. Which seems to be one of the main justifications for its elimination. 

Despite all this common sense, recess is disappearing in thousands of school systems nationwide.  All to make room for more class time, amidst the call for greater academic rigors and initiatives.  While I assume positive intent here, I suggest this should be studied further before we lose a time-proven concept.  Remembering that the benefits I describe above are hard to measure.  Often until much later in a child’s life.

With all this said, let’s just admit that recess is the most kid-driven time of day.  When they are mostly in control. They will make it fun no matter what the weather is, or what equipment they have.  I remember collecting bugs while on recess.  Of telling stories.  Of just goofing around.  I’m sure some of that still happens.  I feel that this small break in a child’s day might hold some of the keys to not just their successful education, but to a more successful and happy life. 

Given the amount of time everyone spends these days indoors, in front of a computer, with their phone, at a desk, it’s easy to think that this physical and social activity is irrelevant.  But we know better, don’t we?  Why do kids have to grow up so fast?  Only to join us in this virtual, sedate, often anti-social world we have created. 

I have spent 35 years working with, leading, recruiting, interviewing, and hiring individuals.  Almost all of them with a great deal of academic credibility and skill.  Gifted and talented people! However, where many fall short, is that they lack critical pieces of the social skillset. Communicating their thoughts, particularly orally. Being able to navigate social situations.  Even successfully interacting with their peers in a team environment. 

I especially see this in their ability to use emotional intelligence.  Which include skills like emotional awareness, utilizing emotions for problem solving, and managing both their own feelings and understanding the feelings of others.  Things I would have hoped they learned as they socially interacted with their peers in their early upbringing, as well as throughout life.

While leading these types of people, I discussed this as an area of need for their development.  Every one of them recognized their opportunities here.  But it was never a priority for them to develop.  The focus for them was always on academics! Developing personal technical acumen. Do you see where I am going with this?

I cannot imagine this situation getting better if we take away one of the few places and times that they might begin to develop these types of skills.  As children!  That’s why I say let them play!  Let kids be face to face and social. Let them have conflict and get a few bruises.  Let them learn to deal with different points of view along the way.  Gaining knowledge of leadership in the process. We never seem to have enough of those! 

Unstructured play time for children should never become passe.  We have far too much to lose just to get better test scores.   To me, it’s not even an experiment worth conducting.  Some things just cannot be improved upon.  Like slides and swings and monkey bars.  Even that merry-go-round thingy!