The Decline of Outdoor Play in Schools

By Meghna

            Think back to your elementary school days. What were some of your fondest memories of playing outside as a child? Perhaps, it was hide and seek on the playground, racing a friend to the top of the jungle gym, or those extremely competitive foursquare and dodge ball games that were often filled with sweat, arguments, and even tears. In addition, the more traditional games of hopscotch, jump rope, and tag may also come to mind. Regardless of how one spent his or her outdoor time, this was certainly a part of the school day that every child enjoyed and looked forward to. Unfortunately, today’s children are not experiencing nearly as much play time as previous generations. With the heightened pressure to fulfill the requirements of statewide standardized testing, many schools have elected to reduce outdoor play in favor of more instructional time in the classroom. Furthermore, some schools have even removed outdoor playtime altogether.

While schools may think that less focus on outdoor play time will lead to better student performances on standardized testing and increased academic achievement in the classroom, research suggests otherwise. According to Dr. Debbie Rhea, an associate dean of the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas Christian University, “when any human sits for longer than about 20 minutes, the physiology of the brain and body changes, robbing the brain of needed oxygen and glucose” (p.1). Essentially, the brain no longer has the ability to process and retain the information that is being presented. No wonder children are constantly fidgeting in class and having difficulty understanding the subject material. Their little bodies are simply not designed to go such long periods of time without active play! Being outside gives children the opportunity to release all their energy and connect what they have learned in the classroom to the outdoor environment, building and strengthening their physical, cognitive, and social skills.

Moreover, a study conducted at two private schools in Texas reveals that more outdoor time can indeed enhance the children’s behavior, concentration, and academic achievement in the classroom  (Strauss, 2015). Studies further show that decreased playtime has a negative effect on a child’s happiness, paving the way for a variety of emotional issues, namely that of anxiety and depression (Entin, 2011). So why are kids not playing outside more during the school day? What are schools achieving by depriving children of the activity that brings them the most happiness and joy and is crucial to their growth and development? Maybe it is time for school administrators across the country to open their eyes and realize that reducing outdoor playtime is only going to lead to the continual rise in sensory and emotional issues among children, preventing them from becoming highly functional adults. Thus, now more than ever, schools must take the initiative to once again be a play friendly environment, where children have an ample amount of opportunities to freely explore and discover the world around them, ultimately, creating a strong foundation for academic, social, emotional, and physical growth and success in the future. 

References

Entin, E. (2011, October 12). All Work and No Play: Why Your Kids Are More Anxious, Depressed. Retrieved November 2, 2015.

Pappas, S. (2011, August 14). As Schools Cut Recess, Kids' Learning Will Suffer, Experts Say. Retrieved November 2, 2015.

Strauss, V. (2015, August 21). Why young kids need less class time — and more play time — at school. Retrieved November 2, 2015.