When it comes to recess, many of us can agree that kids could use a lot more of it. Unfortunately, in many states, recess is limited to a mere 20 minutes a day, and some don’t even offer that! Parents are left advocating for their little ones to get at least a quarter of an hour of outdoor playtime. But why are we still stuck in a system that prioritizes relentless performance over play?
In a bold move last year, Sunnyvale Elementary in Fort Worth, Texas, decided to up the ante on recess. They introduced two 15-minute breaks each morning for kindergarten and first-grade students, plus two additional 15-minute breaks every afternoon. Other grades also received an extra 15-minute recess, transforming the traditional one-recess routine into two! Teachers were initially concerned about losing valuable classroom time, but after five months, they discovered that kids were actually more engaged and focused in class. Who would’ve guessed?
Inspired by this success, three other schools in the district jumped on the bandwagon to try out the same schedule. The most amusing part? This updated approach stems from a curriculum that began in the ’60s and ’70s called Positive Action—an initiative that emphasizes the importance of recess and character development for student success. Today, it’s known as LiiNK, which stands for “Let’s inspire innovation ’n kids.” This program was developed by Dr. Amy Rivers, a professor and associate dean of research in the College of Health and Human Services.
“I started the program because I was tired of seeing students burn out by third grade, teachers feeling overwhelmed in five years, and schools fixated on testing from pre-K all the way through high school,” Rivers explained to The Washington Post. “When I saw Finland doing things differently in 2011, I spent six weeks there to figure out what strategies we could adopt.”
The two elements of recess and character development that Dr. Rivers implemented in the 14 public schools were inspired by the Finnish model. Interestingly, we used to focus on these elements in the ’60s and ’70s, but we veered off course while Finland kept it steady. Now, Finland is praised for its educational approach while we… well, let’s not go there, shall we?
For instance, at Sunnyvale Elementary, first-grade teacher Claire Thompson expressed her initial apprehension. “I was nervous about taking my class outside four times a day and still being able to cover the curriculum,” she admitted. However, she soon noticed that her students were paying better attention, following directions more closely, and learning to solve problems independently. Plus, the number of disciplinary issues dropped significantly.
Meanwhile, a study revealed that the average student in large urban school districts is subjected to approximately 112 standardized tests from pre-K through 12th grade. That’s an astounding 20 to 25 hours a year spent on just testing. Ouch!
Sunnyvale Elementary’s principal, James Parker, is thrilled with how positively the students have responded to their new schedule. “In essence, we’re giving kids back their childhood,” he said.
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In summary, increasing recess time has led to remarkable improvements in student focus and engagement at Sunnyvale Elementary, highlighting the importance of play in education.