{"id":1679,"date":"2018-09-04T16:32:50","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T20:32:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.playworks.org\/new-york-new-jersey\/?p=1679"},"modified":"2018-11-12T14:03:51","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T19:03:51","slug":"all-new-jersey-elementary-schools-now-have-recess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.playworks.org\/new-york-new-jersey\/2018\/09\/04\/all-new-jersey-elementary-schools-now-have-recess\/","title":{"rendered":"How Schools Can Make Those 20 minutes Go Smoothly"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday August 10th, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill from the New Jersey State Senate making 20 minutes of recess every day mandatory for all Garden State elementary schools. <\/span><\/h3>\n

Students are now guaranteed 20 minutes of play a day at the start of the 2018-2019 school year. This is a big win for kids. <\/span><\/p>\n

Survey results from Playworks partner schools show that students who play at least 20 minutes a day develop healthier lifestyles and achieve greater academic, social, and emotional success.<\/span><\/p>\n

But simply adding more time for play is only the first step. Making sure that all kids feel like they have opportunities to play and to feel included at recess can be challenging, especially for schools that have not had a full 20 minutes of recess in the past.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Tennessee made recess mandatory two years ago, staff at schools that did not have recess previously found themselves on a learning curve.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018We let them all out on the football field, gave them a couple balls, and said, \u2018go ahead, good luck!\u2019 Kids didn\u2019t know how to interact in that environment, we didn\u2019t know how to resolve conflicts in that environment, and by first quarter I was desperate,\u201d <\/span>remembered Hannah Reinke, one PE teacher<\/span><\/a> charged with implementing the new law. <\/span><\/p>\n

After finding that other schools were struggling with the same challenges, Reinke\u2019s school decided to partner with Playworks to train their staff for success.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been amazing,\u201d says Reinke. \u201cNow, kids have ways to express themselves, to play, to move\u2014and they can choose to do so. It\u2019s not like we are out there teaching a P.E. class. It\u2019s been amazing to see our 6th graders go crazy for jump rope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The CDC recommends that schools create a recess plan to support student safety and health. Taking this approach, \u201cshould result in increased physical activity, positive behavior during recess, and improved behavior and engagement in the classroom.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Where should schools start? <\/b><\/p>\n