OT- Do your kids get recess at school?

[bdoyledimou]

My kids (in grade 4 and 6) get 20 minutes in the AM, 20 minutes in the PM, and then an hour for lunch, which is free time.

They have 2 40 minute PE periods a week as well.


When i was in elementary, I went from one school which was the same as this, to another school, which only had 15 minutes in the AM and 45 minute lunch, nothing in the pm.. took me a while to adjust.

 

[becalubob]

Our public school system for elementary students gives them a 15 min. morning recess, a 15 min. afternoon recess, and about 20-30 mins. after lunch, everyday, (including PE days). It was the same way when I was in grade school, and I had always thought that was pretty standard until my best friend and her husband both graduated with teaching degrees, moved to Florida and their students have NO recess at all! And they wonder why they have so many behavior issues? (Not saying recess will cure this - but they both feel it would definately help. I know her DH did some research to strengthen their case for a need for at least one recess, but the principal said there was simply no way to fit it into the school day.)
poor kids....

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My kids get 20 minutes a day even on PE days. I would be mad if they didn't. Recess is very important for exercise and social skills.

I also think recess and PE are totally different. Kids need recess so they can run and play and just be kids! PE is more structured and skill oriented.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

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.

Where do your kids go to school? Prison? The teacher is nuts. I have never heard of such a thing. We have recess every day. Outside unless it is bad weather then it is inside. The kids play whatever games they make up. They never have to sit in silence at lunch and/or recess. What you have described is not normal.

 

[waltskids]

In the district where DH and I both teach, the students in K-5 get 30 minutes of recess everyday in addition to one 30 minute class of PE every 6 days (we run on a 6 day cycle). The organized activities you are referring to may be a result of state standards regarding PE minutes per week (ie: if they are supposed to have more than what they are getting in gym class).

 

[MM27]

Please, please, please, speak to the teacher first. As a teacher, it drives me nuts when I see people that respond right away to call the principal. There is a chain of command in most schools if you have a problem. The teacher is the first one you should be in touch with. Who knows, you might be getting only part of the story.

I teach 4th grade and while our students get recess every day (including on gym day), it's only for 10 minutes. Way too short for kids this age. We actually have a VP that will call teachers out in front of the kids if you stay out longer than the 10 minutes. Their theory is, they can't justify taking time away from instructional time for recess. What they don't seem to understand is that kids that don't have time to run around and release some of that energy get very sluggish in the afternoon.

 

[Miss LD]

when I was in grade 3 we had to eat lunch in silence.
It was awful! I will never forget that.
And, it's not like it taught me anything. But, it's the one thing I remember about grade 3!!!
I'm a social person, and I loved lunch hour. But we had to sit quietly at our desks. And our teacher made us do walking drills and stuff. Strange! She was all about quiet too.
I'd talk to her and then the principal if you don't get anywhere.
Now that I'm a mother I can tell you that DS NEEDS recess. He needs to run off some steam!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Where do your kids go to school? Prison? The teacher is nuts. I have never heard of such a thing. We have recess every day. Outside unless it is bad weather then it is inside. The kids play whatever games they make up. They never have to sit in silence at lunch and/or recess. What you have described is not normal.

I agree, the teacher is nuts!

Our kids get two recesses a day (even on P.E. days, and they have P.E. twice a week). Their first recess is for 20 minutes after lunch, and their second recess is 15 minutes in the afternoon. They get to play whatever they want. The teachers aren't even on the playground during recess. That's kinda like their break time. Instead there are parent volunteers who are "playground supervisors".

Silent lunches.....never heard of it, and I sure as heck wouldn't allow it to happen to my kids. NO WAY!

 

[pooh4evr]

I think 2 20 min in am and 20 pm (kind of depending when lunch falls because 1 is b4 lunch- 3 day rotation of specials- PE, Music and Art

 

[mommy2g]

My 2nd grader has recess 3 times a day (plus PE twice a week). She has 15 minutes in the morning, 15 min in the afternoon and about 20 minutes after lunch. My 5th grader only has the morning and after lunch recess, they eliminate the 3rd recess in the 5th grade since they eat at the last lunch period and only have 2 hours left after lunch recess. Kids need to be able to run and use their energy to be able to learn.

 

[wildfan1473]

Holy Cow. My kids get 2 recesses a day, 15 minutes each time, plus gym 3 days a week.

 

[michael's mom]

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.

I am a first grade teacher and my first suggestion would be to talk to the teacher. She may have a reason for this...what, I cannot imagine. Kids need recess but if it is a schedule thing with gym that is one thing. The silent lunch is absolutely unacceptable. If the teacher gets to socialize while she is eating, the children should too!

Still, I would approach the teacher first with your concern. She will be more apt to respond positively (at least politely) if you grant her that respect. However, if you do not feel that her response is acceptable, definitely contact the principal.

 

[tammy1210]

I think it's sad how much things have changed since we were in school - and that they feel like they have to use every minute of the day cramming our kids heads full of facts so that they'll do well on standardized tests so the schools don't lose funding - something's way wrong with the system. Anyway - back to the subject - ds is in 3rd this year - one recess/15 min. a day - PE is 30 min. every 4th school day.

 

[sk!mom]

I'm a mom and 3rd grade teacher. It all sounds very odd. I'd get my DD out of that class ASAP. The teacher sounds way to controlling.

At my school which is a K-5, all students get daily PE (35 min.), lunch recess (10-15 min.), and an additional 20 min. recess.