Recess Links and News

Recess Research
Web links from the Internet including articles, research and resources to help you support the cause.

See the State Recess Advocates List
We now have Recess Advocates in almost all 52 States!

Become a Recess Advocate
We are recruiting volunteers to be Recess Advocates in each state.

Promoting Recess
Suggestions on how to get involved and promote recess at your child's school.

The Case for Elementary Recess
We are pleased to offer parents, teachers, and school administrators the following information that supports the need for elementary school recess.

Recess Rhymes
This is an adaptation of the Case for Elementary Recess in rhyming verse.

Recess Links
Read what other organizations, newspapers, and magazines are saying about recess.

Review and Order IPA/USA's Book on Recess
Elementary School Recess: Selected Readings, Games, and Activities for Teachers and Parents

Fair Play for Recess
See this web site made by concerned parents.

Recess Please
Do Children Need Recess? This web site is dedicated to exploring the TRUTH about elementary school recess. If you are aware of published literature that should be presented here, please send the information. http://www.geocities.com/recessplease/

I contacted the Michigan State Board of Education about some information I found in my files that states that they mandated recess. They E-mailed me back stating that it is true. They do have a policy that they adopted just 5 months after Virginia mandated recess!

The link below takes you directly to the pdf file that states their support for daily recess. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/bdpolicy001214_16470_7.pdf

That's TWO states that now have policies mandating daily recess!

Sincerely,
Rebecca

A WIN IN TEXAS - 4/21/03

Hi Rebecca!
I want to let you know the outcome at the school board meeting this past monday. A resolution was voted in as Children Get a Daily Recess and the teacher must have a good reason to deny a child recess. (the last part was put into bold letters)

It was a victory but not to the extent we were looking for. It will now be up to the parents to moniter why their child may not have had a recess.

The school board was very in favor of recess (shocking to me) and questioned why not to make it a policy. They asked that the principals moniter their teachers to make sure it is not being abused. The resolution (i feel) has made it easier to become policy if need be.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!--This is a victory for you. All the information you sent to me was the key element in the school board taking this so seriously. I have learned so much. I will be available for whomever may need my help in the future as well.

Thanks!
Laurie Walmsley

Position Statement from National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education
http://ericps.ed.uiuc.edu/naecs/position/recessplay.html

No-Fun Zones: Schools take a Recess Timeout
Matt Schudel (South Florida Sun Sentinel, CityTalk, November 9, 2001)
This is a wonderful article. Not long, but well worth the read. Thank you Dr. Rose Jones for sharing this with us. When the screen appears to this "link" scroll down a little (past the advertising and searches) and you will find the article for the 9 November 2001
http://www.findarticles.com/m0HKV/4_10/82880556/p1/article.jhtml

CDC REPORT!!!
Promoting Better Health for Young People Through Physical Activity and Sports A Report to the President From the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education
Our nation's young people are, in large measure, inactive, unfit, and increasingly overweight. Physical inactivity threatens to reverse the decades-long progress in reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases. Ultimately this could have a devastating impact on our national health care budget. This report from the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education, and recently released by the White House, outlines ten strategies to promote health and reduce obesity through lifelong participation in enjoyable and safe physical activity and sports. Included is a bibliography and appendices of helpful materials.

Complete Report http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/physicalactivity/promoting_health/calltoaction.htm