Q: I keep hearing about how children need recess in order to perform better in school. I understand the general idea: you need to get your blood flowing and your body moving in order to get your brain working. However, I was wondering if there was some sort of educational philosophy behind recess?
A: There are two extremely important educational principles behind recess: an opportunity for socialization and physical activity. First, socialization is a key part of the learning process. Children who have friends in the classroom and are comfortable with their peers are more likely to participate, volunteer, and speak up. These interactive elements of the learning are what solidify information in a child’s brain. Therefore, the more comfortable a child is socially, the more comfortable he will be to apply his academic knowledge. Recess, as an opportunity for socialization, provides a time for children to get to know one another on a more personal level, thereby enhancing the positive feeling in the classroom.
The second element of recess that is often overlooked is the idea that through recess children get their bodies moving. John Ratey, a professor at Harvard Medical School and the author of Spark: The Evolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, explains that “physical activity sparks biological changes that encourage brain cell to bind to one another… exercise provides an unparalleled stimulus, creating an environment in which the brain is ready, willing, and able to learn.” So, another added bonus of recess? The ability for children’s brains to function more proficiently after a little physical activity.
Because our schools follow a dual curriculum, it is often hard for teachers to fit in enough time for recess during the day. One exercise that I have found to be helpful both in the classroom and in my office, is a technique Michelle Gay writes about in her book Brain Breaks for the Classroom. These “brain breaks” are a great way to get your child focused when he is doing homework or if he is preparing his leining for his bar mitzvah. The basic concept of brain breaks is that when your child engages both is body and his mind, he will be better ready to accept the information presented to him.
Below are some sample “brain breaks” that your child can do at home or in school:
Brain Wave
- Kneel on the floor. Put your feet down so that your toes are touching. Put your knees down with a little distance between them.
- Rest your forearms and hands (palms down) on the floor. Spread your elbows wider than your knees.
- Put your forehead on the floor between your hands.
- Take a few deep breaths.
- Push forward from your knees toward your head, rolling up until most of your weight is resting on your head and hands. Curve your back like a C.
- Move in reverse until returning to kneeling position.
- Repeat two times.
X’s and O’s
- Sit on the edge of your chair. Make sure your feet are touching the floor.
- Tuck in your arms, legs, and your whole body to make an “O” shape.
- Spread your arms and legs wide open to create an “X” shape.
- Curl back into the “O” position. Repeat.
These are just two of the multiple short “brain breaks” you can take with your child in order to get his brain working – and his academic juices flowing!
