Great Futures Start Here

The Crucial Role Of Recess In School

It is believed that including recess in school schedule has myriad benefits on the overall development of a child’s personality. It provides a much-needed break from a time-constrained academic schedule giving a child an opportunity to socialize. Also, students get time to explore and build cognitive, emotional, physical and academic skills. As per the American Academy of Pediatrics, recess is crucial to the overall development of a child and should be encouraged in schools. It provides a child with interactive and explorative experiences in an unstructured environment

Listed below are some benefits of recess for the development of a school-going child:

  • Academic Benefits: Children who are granted time for recess amidst their academic sessions at school have higher chances of performing better academically. This is because of the invaluable physical, cognitive and emotional benefits that recess has to offer. Such kids have higher energy levels, better retention and are more alert in class. A small break recharges them for academic sessions and boosts their overall academic performance.
  • Cognitive Benefits: Recess encourages children to run around and move freely. This has profound benefits on a child’s mental abilities related to focusing and overall brain function. Irrespective of whether recess is outdoors or indoors, it optimizes cognitive processing and makes a child more attentive and productive in class.
  • Social Benefits: During recess, children get to practice valuable social skills with peers. They learn how to negotiate, solve problems, improve coping skills, work as a team, cooperate, exercise self-control and develop other positive social habits. Having both positive and challenging social interactions helps kids in developing important life skills like leadership and negotiation.
  • Emotional Benefits: A child develops a high emotional quotient if exposed to activities that grant freedom of thought and movement. It can lead to huge emotional benefits for a child. Recess provides great lessons for managing emotions. It provides a healthy and safe environment to vent-out excessive energy and stress that build-up due to academics and fixed routines. Kids who enjoy recess time at school are more likely to grow into happier, responsible, empathetic and less stressed adults.
  • Physical Benefits:  Recess provides an opportunity for children to be physically active. Physical activity helps with fighting obesity, improving mental clarity, boosting one’s mood and generally improving overall health. As per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), physical activity of at least 60 minutes every day is required for kids to be healthy and active.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas provide various opportunities for students to learn and grow. The aim of the clubs is to engage children in life-enhancing programs. For further information on the crucial role of recess in school, visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541. You can also call at (254) 699 – 5808.

How Teamwork Helps Kids Succeed In Life

Encouraging kids to participate in team activities helps them to learn valuable life skills that are needed to be successful as adults. Being part of a team helps a child to understand others better and aids in his overall personality development.

Here is a list of ways in which teaching kids about teamwork benefits them later in life:

  • Better Listening Skills: Teamwork teaches kids the importance of listening to others while striving for a common goal. Being a good listener is an important determinant of one’s success as an adult. It allows one to assimilate knowledge from different people and respect their point of view as well. Kids also learn the importance of listening to the team leader and following instructions.
  • Self-Confidence: Just as kids learn to listen to others, they also get attention in return when they have any ideas that contribute to the team. This makes them feel valued and boosts their self-confidence. Kids shed any inhibitions they may have and grow into confident adults who can effectively put across their points in front of a team.
  • Communication Skills: Interacting with other kids in an uncontrolled environment outside the classroom facilitates free communication. Kids can express themselves freely and observe how others do the same. In the long run, this positively impacts their communication skills making them better at interacting with others.
  • Increases Chances Of Success: Confidence in oneself and the ability to speak effectively in front of an entire team is essential for success in any field. Teamwork makes a kid an all-rounder, happier, energetic and goal-oriented. These are attributes that most employers look for in prospective employees. Teamwork also fosters reasoning skills, group brainstorming, problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and evaluation skills.
  • Social Skills: Teamwork makes kids socially fit as they learn the craft of interacting with others (teammates and opponents). They learn how to be patient, how to take turns, the art of negotiation, how to take criticism positively and get better at conflict resolution.
  • Solidarity: Participating in team activities helps kids to develop a feeling of solidarity towards their team members. They learn to stand for one another during tough times. As adults, this translates into employees who can be counted upon by a company and individuals who will work for the betterment of their community.

For a child to gain the most out of teamwork, he should be under the supervision of an experienced adult with specific knowledge on working with kids in a team.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas offer a variety of activities for kids to help them learn and grow. The clubs aim to engage children in life-enhancing programs. For more details on the importance of teamwork to help kids succeed in life, visit Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas at 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541. You can also call at (254) 699 - 5808.