Introducing breaks after instruction time enhances attention and performance at all ages.
Elementary students are more attentive in the classroom after recess than before it!
Less disruptive behavior when recess is more than 15 minutes per day.
Kindergarteners' and first graders' engagement in peer conversation and games during recess positively predicted academic achievement.
Teaches cooperation, leadership, followership, and inhibition of aggression (under adult supervision rather than adult direction)
Leads to more participation in the classroom, collaboration, following the rules, and simply enjoying school more!
Cons
Legal liability pushes schools against the recess debate because of children getting hurt on equipment or equipment not meeting certain standards and upkeep.
Danger of sexual predators or strangers.
This can be resolved by school grounds officers patrolling the area and keeping play grounds enclosed.
Bullying can thrive on playgrounds.
This can be solved with adult supervision and "time out"zones.
Recess takes up valuable instructional time.
The time spent lining up, walking outside, gathering the kids from the playground, taking them to the restroom, and going back into the classroom, wastes around 30-40 minutes.