“Recess is an essential component of a comprehensive school physical activity program and of the total education experience for elementary school students” (NASPE) Some gym classes offered by schools require students to do a routine set of stretches, push ups, and other exercises. Younger students, after a period of time, find this unnecessary and often refuse to do the repetitive set of exercises. If they do not refuse to do it they only do the exercise partially or improperly. Some just do not do it for the sake of not following directions. Recess, however, is an opportunity for children to orchestrate their own games and activities that they find fun and entertaining. Most of these activities require a lot of running, jumping, and stretching. For example, jumping rope, hide and seek, freeze tag, and etc. They do not see it as exercise that they are required to do so they are more likely to continue and participate in these …show more content…
“For people of all ages in all fields, breaks are considered essential for satisfaction and alertness” (Jarret). The physical activity improves the amount of attention they will pay in class. Having a recess in an opportunity for them to release excess energy stored throughout the day. “A student done in elementary schools on fourth-grade students showed that the fourth-graders were more on task and less fidgety in the classroom on days when they had had recess, with hyperactive children among those who benefited most” (Jarret). This proves that the release of the energy allowed them to focus their attention elsewhere when they returned to their classrooms and learn