Write to Katie Reilly at Katie.Reilly@time.com. I know that recess decreases learning time. It would seem, then, that we have created this self-contradictory situation for ourselves and our children: we insist that play is good, if not crucial, for them and enshrine it as recess in elementary schools nationwide and then we take it away from them entirely, at an arbitrary point in their development at what might arguably be the worst possible point, actually. In my opinion, recess should be offered. [4] This idea presumes that the teachers in question have been given training about gifted education, which is perhaps the biggest dose of wishful thinking in this article. Fresh air! Why? Youre probably thinking, Uh, YEAH. And a lot of experts would agree with you. In a 2016 study, psychologist Karrie Godwin and a team of researchers measured how attentive elementary students were during class, and discovered that they spent over a quarter of the time distracted, unable to focus on the teacher or the current task. The truly great advances of this generation will be madeby those who can make outrageous connections,and only a mind which knows how to play can do that. But the trends do make me wonder and concern me on several levels. The important thing to remember is playtime is child-directed, so we need to be open to doing and enjoying the activity our child chooses. In essence, recess should be considered a childs personal time, and it should not be withheld for academic or punitive reasons.. Experts say that about 40 percent of U.S. school districts have cut back on recess timeor cut recess entirely. Now, more and more experts agree: Schools should put recess back on the schedule. Students have been heading outside for recess since at least the 1800s. But in the 1980s, some U.S. schools started to cut recess. Why? Research shows that kids can build important life skills on the playground. It gets me focused and gives me more energy, explains 9-year-old Noah Browning. Its imagination come to life where children get a chance to be creative, explore and move. However, the world of education is changing. The second is having teachers participate in playtime. Do sixth graders not also have energy? So exercise actually changes the structure of our brains, with a number of benefits: improved attention and memory, increased brain activity and cognitive function, and enhancedmood and ability to cope with stress. Recess in a Middle School: What Do the Students Do? Yet, doing so at the sacrifice of playtime can stunt emotional, psychological and social development. Have students read the debate a second time. Ourgrass is finally green, students are outside and another phenomenon is taking place. You have reached your limit of free articles. For example, were seeing children being introduced to formal academics earlier and earlier. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Is Recess Important for Kids or a Waste of Time? Then I realized that some students meet that minimum requirement in their freshman year.