ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Advocates are hoping children get to play as hard as they work. New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) wants a bill passed that would implement a study of the impact of recess of kindergarten through 6th graders in an effort to promote more recess programs in statewide school districts.
“When I play with friends we get to be social and we learn how to work together and solve problems” said a child that spoke at the press conference. “Sometimes you only get a short recess and if it rains or if the schedule is busy we might not get recess at all. That’s not fair to kids. Kids need time to move their bodies and take a break from sitting” said another child at the Capitol’s million dollar staircase.
Out of the mouths of bases a call for the preservation of recess programs. While the bill’s sponsor State Senator James Skoufis says it’s obvious that children will support more playtime, he and advocates like this mom say recess affords safe outdoor play to children from rough neighborhoods like her daughter.
“She told me how she was scared to play outside in front of her house” said the mother. “…And she had every reason to be when she was just five. There was a drive-by shooting in broad daylight while we were outside planting flowers with other neighborhood kids” she added.
When did this push away from play begin? According to the CDC, 40 percent of schools reduced or cut recess in the early 2000s. American University’s School of Education. The school also found that since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 was passed, federal legislation focused on raising nationwide test scores so schools fit in as much instruction during the school day as they could.
‘The evidence is clear, more recess, the test scores are higher” said State Sen James Skoufis.
But is recess the key to making children more engaged in class? A study between 2022 and 23 by the NIH’s National Library of Medicine found that there are behavioral and academic benefits to recess however that evidence is limited by non controlled study designs and a variety of outcome assessments.
Advocates want to get the bill calling for the study passed within the next few weeks. They hope to have the actual study done by the end of the year, which will give them the necessary information for the next legislative session.