Respect the need for recess

As surely as the school bell rings announcing another year, the counterproductive policy of withholding recess for punishment returns. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement against eliminating recess "for punitive or academic reasons."

The facts surrounding this issue clearly support this statement. Recess offers time to rest, play, imagine, think and move. Studies show that children are more attentive and productive after recess.

Recess allows for the development of social and emotional skills that are not learned in structured settings. Negotiation, cooperation, sharing, problem solving, coping, perseverance and self-control are all practiced.

The physical benefits also are well documented. With 19 percent of kindergarten children classified as obese, the importance of recess cannot be understated. Researchers found that children spend only 3 percent of their day in vigorous activities. The health concerns that follow this trend are undeniable -- from diabetes to high blood pressure to inadequate muscle development.

Think about the children who typically lose recess. They are generally the fidgety ones who have trouble focusing and completing tasks. A recent study from the University of Ohio confirms what multiple studies have shown -- that reducing or eliminating recess lowers the ability to focus and learn. Logic and facts tell us that these children need more recess, not less.

It's time to examine the objective facts surrounding recess elimination and stop this practice. Parents need to advocate for children's rights to recess, even into adolescence. Teachers and administrators need to eliminate this practice and respect the need for recess.

KATHY HARRIS, Jackson