Play at school: Recess, and these games, boost child development

Outside play at school can boost students' cognitive, social, emotional and physical abilities in ways in-class education cannot, pediatricians say. And these games help the process along.

By Susan Sachs Lipman / January 11, 2013

Play at school can increase student abilities in ways academic lessons cannot, pediatricians say. Here, two elementary students play during indoor recess in Iowa. File/2011.

Associated Press

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a policy statement that recognizes the value of recess for children. The AAP wrote:

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Susan Sachs Lipman is the author of "Fed Up with Frenzy: Slow Parenting in a Fast-Moving World," which grew out of her award-winning blog,?Slow Family Online. She is the social media director for the Children & Nature Network. Susan and her family enjoy gardening, hiking, soap crafting and food canning.

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Recess during school offers children cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits they don?t get through academics alone.

According to the AAP:

• Recess is ?a necessary break in the day? and ?should not be withheld for academic or punitive reasons.?
• Recess offers important breaks from concentrated classroom work, which allow children to be ?more attentive and more productive in the classroom.?
• Recess ?promotes social and emotional learning and development? through ?peer interactions in which they practice and role play essential social skills.? Children learn negotiation, cooperation, sharing, and problem solving, as well as coping skills, such as perseverance and self-control.
• Recess offers benefits that are ?unique from, and a complement to, physical education ? not a substitute for it.?
• Recess can help offset risks to childhood obesity.

The AAP also noted that some schools cite safety issues as a barrier to recess and free play and offers steps to protect children while offering free and unstructured? play.

The AAP statement provides a large boost to those who have been advocating for recess and free play in the face of calls for more academic and scheduled time for children. Last year, an important study published by the AAP revealed that pre-school children are far too sedentary for their physical and psychological health. The recent policy statement notes that ?even minor movement during recess counterbalances sedentary time at school and at home.?

Read the complete AAP Policy Statement on The Crucial Role of Recess in School.

Many of us grew up with free play and recess games, some of which were made up on the spot, and some of which we learned from others. Here are a few games that kids (and even parents and teachers) may not know, which can add to recess and other fun and play. Many more playground and other game instructions can be found in my book, Fed Up with Frenzy: Slow Parenting in a Fast-Moving World.

Playground Games

These fun, easy games require little or no equipment and have been creating memories for generations.

Duck, Duck, Goose

South Asians know it as Kho Kho, Ghanaians as Antoakyire. German children play a version called Plumpsack, which involves dropping a handkerchief at one player?s spot. Young children play this timeless game around the world.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/gzbk3RhJ4-4/Play-at-school-Recess-and-these-games-boost-child-development

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