Recess

In elementary school, I remember being given about half an hour per day to run outside and play with the other kids. However, I also remember this being taken away as soon as I hit the 4th grade, and it was time to study for the FCAT and other standardized tests. Instead of being given a nice break in the middle of our school day where we could be active and get a bit of exercise, we were stuck inside sitting at our desks for seven hours straight.

Now recess is a thing of the past altogether in most schools and P.E. has been reduced to about 50 minutes PER WEEK. Top that off with hours of homework that require more sitting at a table at home writing and reading. While learning is absolutely essential and I believe that homework is a really REALLY good thing, we are forgetting to teach other important aspects of life...you know, the ones that AREN'T covered on a multiple choice test.

Kids spend all day in a desk now, all afternoon studying in their rooms, and all night playing video games as a way to unwind without needing too much energy since by then they're exhausted. This is a recipe for obesity...literally.

And it's exactly how adult life has become too. Many adults spend all day at their desks working, given a short lunch break where they sit and eat, and then go home and sit with their kids helping them with homework or work on bills/etc at their own computers for a few hours. Maybe watch a bit of TV then go to bed. I think we're learning now too early in life that it is "important" and "part of life" to be sedentary, and this needs to stop.

Let's bring back recess. Even if I can't bring it back in schools (which I am really endeavoring to do through my master's thesis), Let's try to bring it back at home. Instead of telling your kids they cant play outside til their homework is done, why not go play with them for 30 minutes or an hour right after school before they start their homework. You know their homework must get done, so if you go outside and play catch or use the swing set with them for a little bit, they're sure to get their exercise and fun AND get their homework done before bed. The only thing that might have to get left for another day is the video game playing. Take it from me, an avid gamer, playing outside is much more fun anyway.

Bring it back for yourself too. Use your lunch hour to "play" outside. Take a walk; take a lunch hour spin/yoga class. Take a few minutes while your kids are having nap time to pop in a zumba video or dance along with Carmen Electra in your living room in between vacuuming. Go get your friends after work in the park and play some tackle football or take up golfing on the weekends.

Get outside and play!

Recess is much more important than schools seem to remember it is, and I hope to affect this change as soon as I can get them to understand that standardized testing isn't the end all save all of education. For now, bring back recess in your own lives and encourage your kids to get more active just for fun. Fitness and health will simply wonderful byproducts of fun!