Recess seems to also have affirmative effects on a child’s academics. When children take time from the classroom to spend time participating in activities outdoors, they participate better in the classroom. Author Gross-Loh reports, “Play is integral to the academic environment …It has been shown to help children adjust to the school setting and even to enhance children's learning readiness, learning behaviors, and problem-solving skills” (par. 11). To summarize Gross-Loh’s point, exercise helps train students to performing better in the classroom. Recess can also encourage strong academics, because recess has been shown to sharpen the child's learning abilities. There has been evidence to prove that children’s brains are stimulated during recess time. The activities the students partake in, in addition to sun exposure, are. are relevant to this occurrence. There have also been studies to show that increased physical activity leads to higher academic scores (Pica, “Why Kids Need Recess” par. 5). Higher academic scores support the point that recess in beneficial activities. Even more evidence is shown in a survey that found “43 [percent of] children became more on-task and less fidgety on days when they had recess. Sixty percent of the children, including five with attention deficit disorder, worked more and/or fidgeted less on recess days” (Pica, “Why Kids Need Recess” par. 6). These conclusions, which Pica discusses in her article, add weight to the argument that children should have a mandated recess time. Another study recorded in "The Retreat of Recess,” by Deanna Ryan, showed similar results. The research they performed showed the children that they studied were better focused and more productive doing school work when on days when they had the opportunity to go outside and have recess. These results were even more supported when the study included children that have attention disorders (Ryan par. 4). Overall, academics are positively benefited by recess.
Furthermore, some parents may believe that more time in the classroom will lead to a better education for their children. The parents may urge for more materials being taught at a young age in order to best educate their children. To best prepare their children, some of the parents would like to replace recess time with more classroom time. Gross-Loh supports this claim by suggesting that “standardized testing and parental attitudes toward academic learning at the earliest possible age have resulted in many schools eliminating recess” (par. 9). The parents of these children do not realize the positive effects recess has on their child’s academic success. In the article"AAP Emphasizes Importance of Recess in Schools," the author wrote, “Not only are physical activities beneficial for children, but recess provides " an essential, planned respite from rigorous cognitive tasks. It affords a time to rest, play, imagine, think, move, and socialize” (par. 2). Basically, recess helps the student in their physical activities along with their educational development. All in all, the physical activities that coincide with recess are more beneficial to education, rather than harming the class time.
Furthermore, some parents may believe that more time in the classroom will lead to a better education for their children. The parents may urge for more materials being taught at a young age in order to best educate their children. To best prepare their children, some of the parents would like to replace recess time with more classroom time. Gross-Loh supports this claim by suggesting that “standardized testing and parental attitudes toward academic learning at the earliest possible age have resulted in many schools eliminating recess” (par. 9). The parents of these children do not realize the positive effects recess has on their child’s academic success. In the article"AAP Emphasizes Importance of Recess in Schools," the author wrote, “Not only are physical activities beneficial for children, but recess provides " an essential, planned respite from rigorous cognitive tasks. It affords a time to rest, play, imagine, think, move, and socialize” (par. 2). Basically, recess helps the student in their physical activities along with their educational development. All in all, the physical activities that coincide with recess are more beneficial to education, rather than harming the class time.