OT- Do your kids get recess at school?

[disneybell]

How much recess do your kids get if any? My daughter is in 3rd grade and she started at a different school this year. On gym day, two days a week, they have to skip recess. The teacher also makes them eat in silence on those two days so they can hurry through lunch and get back to class. They are in the cafeteria with everyone else talking around them. Is this normal? My DD dreads those two days.

Her teacher, when they do have recess, forces them to play games. They are not just allowed to run around and play. They are NEVER to raise their voice. My DD said that if they have recess with the fourth graders her teacher plugs her ears and they can be loud. One day she forced them to play a game called four corners and if the kids don't want to participate they can sit silently at the side. Anyway, one of the little boys talked at some point in the game when you are supposed to be silent and she gave them all a time out.

Is this something I should talk to the principle about because this is all very strange to me? Can you all weigh in please - is it normal? I guess I thought all kids got recess to run off a little steam.

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

Yea, I would say this is a little strange for an elementary school. My youngest dd is in 4th grade. Her school goes from K-5 and they have recess every day after lunch for about 20-30 minutes. They have a huge playground in the back of the school with lots of playground equipment, ball fields, etc. They can run around (and usually do), play an organized game, play on the equipment, whatever. I would call the school and set up a time to meet with the prinicipal to discuss this ASAP. Kids need to burn off steam and stress, let alone the exercise.

 

[emma'smom]

Well...my opinion is that recess is a necessity, not a luxury!! It is a time for students to relax and participate in self-initiated social play. Also, studies have shown that children learn better if their time is segmented some (so say, a reading block...then a break...a math block...then a break..)and that physical activity allows for content learned within each segment is more easily recalled after a break/activity. Not that all breaks need to be a formal recess....just stretching, water breaks, etc.

Think about your own study habits the last time you crammed for a test...you probably had all kinds of facts swirling in your head. Take a break... you can come back to the content fresh and see what you really absorbed and what needs to be revisited.

As for silent lunches, I always think of a lunch as a time to develop social skills. We all know that that demands placed on teachers to meet state standards and prepare children for testing are quite rigorous....but removing recess and social experiences at lunch seem a bit draconian!!

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

My kid's school gets recess after lunch everyday. They have about a half hour. They are outside unless it's bad weather. If they are in the cafeteria they can talk in their seats . Usually they watch a movie on a rainy day. If they are in the classroom on a rainy day the monitor may start a classroom game but they are not forced to play. Recess is free time for the kids to play.

 

[SLK1]

My first-grader only gets recess when she has either art or music, so on PE days (three times a week), she does not get recess. As for silence in the lunchroom, that is such a huge mistake in my opinion. I can understand talking in normal voices, but silence teaches them nothing. I would definitely have a talk with the teacher and the principal - go to the teacher first though because otherwise you're going over the teacher's head and that is always a no-no. Or, have a conference with both of them. Sounds like the teacher is a nut job and I wouldn't want any part of her class for my child.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I just found out that the school DD will be starting next year only gets 15 a day...that's NUTS for 5 year olds! These teachers must be saints!

 

[nessz79]

My Kindergartner gets recess only on non-gym days. Makes no sense to me, since recess and gym are 2 totally different things.

However, I would say your situation is much more extreme and I would definitely contact the principal or switch schools if it is possible. I know in our district we can send our kids to other schools if they have room and we provide transportation.

 

[DisneyKT]

Wow Never heard of that. Thankfully my DD still gets recess everyday, even on gym days. I think they just love to suck all of the fun out of school nowadays. Blah. OP I don't know what to say except maybe talk to the school principal. Good Luck.

 

[lkaanda]

Our schools have always had recess. It used to be one hour, with 1/2 for eating and 1/2 for playing outside (including time walking to and from classes etc.). This year they decided to change it to 20 minutes for eating and 40 minutes outside, which is nice to let them burn off some energy and be able to see kids who are not in their class. I think it was a great idea for them to change it. I know as far as the cafeteria they have a traffic light system to remind the kids of the volume they are using and that seems to work really well. They would olny have to be silent if they were acting up. I agree, maybe you should talk to the principle about it and see if it helps. Good luck!

 

[KristiMc]

My ds (2nd grade) gets 30 minutes of recess everyday right after lunch. During lunch they are allowed to talk, but the lunch aides do intervene if it get too loud.

Kids this age need that time to burn off energy, chat and just socialize. I would talk to your principal.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS (fourth grade) gets recess twice a day. Once in the morning with his class, for about 15 minutes, and after lunch for about 10 or 15 minutes (depends on how fast they eat, which is another issue~). They get recess every day, even on gym days (which is once a week). They are able to do whichever activities they choose...playground equipment, kickball, tag, sidewalk chalk, etc. My DS's teacher always plays kickball with the kids, which I think is great! (a good role model for good sportsmanship!)

Eating in silence?? Never. Not in elementary school anyway. At my DS13's middle school, however, they DO use this as a form of punishment, and as you can imagine, it's hard on teens and pre-teens!!!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DS is in 4th grade. He gets recess for 20 minutes every day. On days he doesn't have gym, they have a double recess period.

Eating in silence, thats horrible!

 

[J3nn78]

We get 18 minutes a day scheduled at our school (k-6) though by the time the on duty teachers are out there and kids are dismissed it is more like 14 minutes. Not nearly enough time. But with all the must haves crammed into the day, including spanish, there just is not more time for it. Our school had to shorten recess when they were required to add a language class into the schedule.

 

[daleswife]

My DD is in kindergarten and she gets 30 minutes after lunch EVERY day. She has Gym every day too. I dont like her Gym teacher though.......She was there when I went to school there and she did some things then that I would like to smack her for. Shes the one who told my older sister that she was adopted, which caused a lot of problems and Id still like to smack her......sorry, OT I know. My DD's class even gets about 20 to 30 minutes a day to watch a movie....but she is there for a long time.....about 8:30am until she gets off the bus at 4:30p.m.

 

[carj]

Our students get 30 minutes of recess K-6th grade. They also get 30 minutes of PE per day.

Does your child get PE? There are some PE requirements for kids that some schools are trying to meet by having directed games during recess, led by the teacher, rather than hiring more PE teachers. (I personally think that is terrible.)

As for silent lunch, that is ridiculous. What kinds of social situations are they preparing these children for? I talk with my companions while I eat, kids should be allowed to do the same. They need to be taught to speak in a quiet voice, no need for shouting or unruly behavior.

On statewide testing days, the kids are not allowed to talk at lunch and do not have recess. That is to stay in compliance with the guidelines for testing and it is only 3 days per school year.

 

[ajh88]

My DD is in 2nd grade and gets 2 recesses every day (even on P.E. days) - each is about 15 minutes. Those kids run around like BANSHEES for that time!

I would suggest setting up a meeting with the teacher and just bring up the recess/lunch room thing - you've said your daughter dreads those days and maybe you could approach it from that angle to keep from putting her on the defensive. I'd only go to the principal if your meeting with the teacher does not go well or doesn't bring you satisfaction.

Her actions sound strange to me - but sometimes teachers say and do things that kids misunderstand (not saying that is the case here - just saying it happens). Just to play devil's advocate, perhaps the teacher has some hearing or ear problems that make loud noises painful or unbearable for her? Still no excuse for imposing what are, IMHO, unreasonable rules for 3rd graders, but maybe a possibility.

 

[StephMK]

Definitely ask her teacher in a non-threatening way what their typical day is like. Our school says we'll believe half of what your kids tell us if you believe half of what your kids tell you. If it's truly exactly as your DD says, then no, that's not normal IMO & I'll definitely ask the school.

At least at our school, I've heard parents complain that the kids are forced to have silent lunch. Well, I worked up there for awhile & no, it was only silent lunch when the cafeteria got too loud & the kids wouldn't listen & keep it down.

My kids get 2 recesses - which they think is awesome - since we came from a 1 recess school. 20 minutes before lunch then 20 minutes to eat but they line up in groups for lunch lines ahead of time so it goes quickly & they have more time to eat. Then 20 min again later in the afternoon. Gym 2x a week, music 2x a week. 1 Day is alternating gym, music or technology. My only beef is that the kids don't wash their hands after recess, they get a squirt of sanitizer on their way in the door to lunch.

 

[snickerboo]

Recess: 10 minutes in the a.m., and 10 minutes in the afternoon. They also go outside after they finish their lunches which ends up being half an hour to forty minutes. They also have regular gym classes (not every day) and a daily physical activity period.

 

[Ephany]

DD is in kindergarten and has recess every day. She also has PE three times a week. I wish she had recess twice day like I did when I was little, but I'm grateful she at least has it once a day.

 

[holly7347]

DD is in 1/2 day kindergarten and they get recess outside almost every day. She has told me about games they played during recess but I'm not sure if it was something the teacher encouraged or if one of the kids said hey do you want to play this with me. We were out of school 2 days due to no electricity and the first day back they didn't get recess because they were trying to make up some of the work missed. I'm really not sure what they do when it is raining or to cold to go outside. They only get gym 1 day a week for 40 minutes. They don't eat lunch but do get a drink/snack break towards the end of their 1/2 day program. I volunteered in their class today for the first time and the kids were allowed to talk with each other during their drink break.

It does seem very strange to me to make kids be quiet during recess. It is also wierd that they can't play what ever they want. I'm not sure I would go directly to the principal first though. I think you should start with the teacher and get her side first. Voice your concerns to her first and if you aren't happy with the outcome then take it up with the principal.