How Does It Work? -- Break Times

    One thing that parents seem to comment on as they get to know our procedures around here is the fact that we have ten to fifteen minutes of break time every hour.  Through our dealings with parents whose students have been in the public school system, we have realized that recess has become an endangered species in our schools.  Even as people are complaining about obese, unhealthy kids, they seem to be taking away out-of-your-seat time in the classrooms.
 
     Most of the time, adults are not required to work all day without an opportunity to at least get away from their work for a lunch period and a few minutes here and there through the day. Yet school kids are expected to sit and pay attention for several hours a day, and most of them only get one period of down-time in an eight hour day!

      Kids are wiggly.  They are easily distracted. They get bogged down by doing the same thing for a long period of time.  (If  that thing requires mental effort--they can watch TV all day!)  And when all these things happen, it can make the learning and retention of their school work difficult, if not impossible!  So, we have break times.  We tell the students to get up, get out of their seats, and get moving in some fashion.

    
     Also, studies have shown that kids who spend time playing, especially outdoors, are able to perform better in their academic work.  Their brains get a "reset" by taking time to look away from their books, get their blood circulating, and engage other neural pathways. 



     Another benefit to break times is the fact the kids get much needed confidence boosters.  Break time is often the best time for students to learn lessons in perseverance and patience.  A kid who may be struggling in an academic subject can shine on the ball field and gain the confidence needed to come back in an tackle that tough concept.  Students who shine academically need the opportunity to work on their physical development to help them be well-rounded as an individual.  They need to strike out and then get back up to bat again.  The lessons learned in these areas will benefit them for the rest of their lives.




    One of the most obvious perks of break time is in the way that it teaches everyone how to treat other people with kindness and friendliness.  When kids are encouraged to spend time with other kids of differing ages, they must learn the interpersonal relationship skills that are so necessary in their adult lives.  Older kids have to learn to be examples of the right kind of things, and younger kids have to learn that it sometimes pays off to listen to someone who has done it before you.  Playing as a team, depending on others, and working with people's weaknesses are all things that will stand them in good stead in their future work environments.


     So, we plan to keep break time an important part of our school day.  Because, as we have found,  "it does a body (and mind) good!"