Only 9 States Require Providing Recess

Only 9 states (18%) require elementary schools to provide students with recess. In my opinion, that should be 50 states (100%)!

We've heard for years that regular physical activity provides children with multiple physical and mental health benefits, such as:

• Builds strong bones and muscles.
• Decreases the likelihood of developing chronic diseases -- such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and osteoporosis.
• Improves self-esteem.
• Reduces anxiety and depression.

What we don't hear enough about is how physically active students are better learners. Scientific evidence shows that when students are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day it:

• Increases concentration and focus.
• Improves classroom attendance.
• Improves behavior.
• Boosts academic performance, including grades and standardized test scores.

In one University of Illinois study, physical activity was shown to improve academic performance. The study with 9 and 10 year olds demonstrated the effects of 20 minutes of walking on students prior to taking a test then compared results to another group of children who simply sat for 20 minutes before the test. The walking group outperformed the sitting group by responding faster to questions and making fewer errors. As shown in the brain image on this page, researchers found that physical activity increases brain activity, which translates into better academic learning.

In a review of 50 studies on the association of physical activity and student learning, the Centers for Disease Control dispelled the notion that providing adequate physical activity has to be made ‘at the expense of academics.’ Rather, the CDC’s recommendation to school administrators and teachers is that physical education, recess, classroom-based physical activity, and extracurricular physical activities support rather than detract from student learning. As a CDC campaign puts it: “The More They Burn, the Better They Learn.”

C'mon schools! Lets get our kids "burning" and "learning!"

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past