Articles

Faced with increased school accountability, student testing programs, more demanding curriculum and government sanctions for poor performance, many schools have deleted recess from the timetable: those breaks in the school day set aside for active, free play. The apparent belief is that the time is better spent in the classroom (with an added advantage of reducing the risk of lawsuits associated with playground safety and security). Yet recess, unstructured playtime where children have a choice of activities, can contribute significantly to the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of young children.