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Despite the proven benefits, students probably aren鈥檛 getting the most out of recess, finds a 听that offers up a to optimize the playground experience.

While there鈥檚 little doubt that children get exercise on the playground鈥攔ecess accounts for up to taken during the school day鈥攕chools often underestimate the social, emotional, and academic potential of playtime and fail to design recess to optimize those benefits.

To help educators understand what works on the playground鈥攁nd what doesn鈥檛鈥攔esearchers visited nearly 500 elementary schools spanning 22 urban and metropolitan areas in the U.S. The researchers hoped to develop a tool that looked beyond simple questions of physical activity and playground equipment and听toward听a broader review of 鈥渟afety, resources, student engagement, adult engagement, prosocial/antisocial behavior, and student empowerment on the playground.鈥�

Tip 1: Don鈥檛 Overlook the Power of Recess to Boost Social, Emotional, and Academic Skills

High-quality recess doesn鈥檛 just give students an opportunity to exercise, but also helps them learn how to navigate the social and emotional terrain鈥攁nd turbulence鈥攐f childhood. Whether it鈥檚 taking turns on the swings, dealing with a crushing loss in dodgeball, or playing on a team, suggests that these experiences are a kind of life in miniature, laying the foundation for later success in school, relationships, and careers.

To get recess right, the study recommends that schools ask questions linked to student engagement and empowerment on the playground: Are children engaged in a variety of fun games and activities, both structured and unstructured? Are children choosing the games they鈥檇 like to play? Are they getting along and using recess to develop key social skills like turn-taking and conflict resolution? Can they operate with increasing confidence without regular adult intervention?

The questions are a reminder that recess is not just about playing games and having fun听but also a part of practicing to become healthy, well-rounded adults.

Tip 2: Use Adults to Model Positive Behaviors

Improving students' relationships with teachers boosts academic success and promotes their . That鈥檚 true at recess, too鈥攂ut schools may underutilize adults on the playground, limiting them to tasks like monitoring student behavior or enforcing playground rules.

That鈥檚 a key strategy to help curb bullying, but adults can also model positive language and behaviors while playing alongside children. And when students are excluded from team games, adult supervisors can step in and ensure that every child gets a chance to play, helping to integrate all students and foster a culture of belonging.

Research shows that a student鈥檚 psychological well-being鈥攆rom positive to their 鈥攃an have an outsized effect on academic achievement and long-term success. The playground is another opportunity for schools to build a supportive culture: 鈥淚f the playground environment is one in which bullying and antisocial behaviors occur, it becomes difficult to make the claim that this environment inherently contributes to social, emotional, and cognitive health,鈥� argue the authors of the study.

Tip 3: Safe Environments Promote Healthy, Active Play

When playground equipment isn鈥檛 repaired, it can disrupt recess and undermine students鈥� feelings of safety. Schools should make sure that the nuts and bolts听of the playground are working: Is playground equipment well-maintained? Is there enough game equipment, like balls and jump ropes, to go around? Are hazardous areas, such as construction sites or traffic areas, blocked off?

Children are more likely to enjoy a safe and well-maintained playground, after all. Even something as simple as providing balls and jump ropes can increase the number of children who are physically active by .

The takeaway: Use playtime wisely. Recess isn鈥檛 a break from learning鈥攊f structured appropriately, it鈥檚 a valuable opportunity for students to grow socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically.