I hear it SO often.

 “He didn’t finish his work, so he had to stay in at recess”

“She couldn’t keep her hands to herself, so she lost recess”

“He kept talking during the lesson, so he sat inside during recess”

I must ask WHY are we still taking away recess when we have countless studies that show how important it is? Why is it used as a punishment at all? Recess is not a privilege; it is the foundation of learning.

Recess is not “free time” it is vital to the development of the brain and social skills.

We have so many studies that have shown how recess is connected to increased academic scores, improved social skills, and improved self-regulation. Parents and educators everywhere understand how vital these three skills are for school success. So WHY are we still making this same mistake in classrooms across the country?

 Movement of the body is the foundation for neurological development.

This development...