Recess is an extension of the classroom, which offers valuable learning time. It’s not only a time for students to take a break from difficult cognitive tasks and expel energy, it’s an opportunity for them to develop valuable skills such as, teamwork, conflict resolution, empathy and leadership.
These skills become fundamental tools that shape our kids into more successful adults. Ultimately, withholding recess robs our kids of the childhood they deserve.
According to a 2018 Utah Action for Healthy Kids survey, more than 50 percent of public Utah elementary schools reported withholding recess as a form of punishment or remediation, i.