Kids need recess | Simon Link | TEDxAmanaAcademy

Simon Link is a third grader at Amana Academy. He likes chocolate, candy, and learning about the history of other cultures. He loves to run and play during recess. Simon believes students should have longer recess and times to be active throughout the day. This idea connects with the Expeditionary Learning Design Principle Empathy and Caring, and Responsibility for Learning.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Once last year, I got armor and a sword.

I found a dog and played with him.

I built a house and made a garden.

Night came, and monsters were everywhere.

There was an evil lord
that I started killing.

Just as I was about to destroy him ...

(Whistle)

"Time to line up!"

Hello, my name is Simon Link,

and I'm talking about why kids
should have an hour-long recess.

Did you know that genes change
when they get playtime?

Out of 1,200 genes
that scientists have studied,

one-third of them have changed
when they had a half-hour playtime.

Since the 1800s,

research shows that you learn
better and faster when having playtime.

Work that has breaks is more effective
than work with looooong stretches.

Some colleagues visited
a school that had no recess.

They asked them
to have recess twice a week

so that they could watch them
and see what they were like.

They were more focused and less fidgety
on days when they had recess.

Stress impacts on learning and health.

For many children, especially
those considered hyperactive,

recess is an opportunity to expend energy
in a healthy, suitable manner.

Recess develops social skills.

Recess may be the only time of the day
when children have an opportunity

to experience socialization
and real communication.

The outside light triggers
the synthesis of vitamin D,

which many studies have shown
increases academic learning.

The outdoors is the best place
for children to burn calories,

practice emerging physical skills,
and experience the pure joy of movement.

According to Rae Pica, who is
a children's physical activity specialist,

recess may be the ...

research even shows that you learn ...

research even shows ...

that ...

when having physical activity at school,

you usually have
more physical activity at home,

and children who don't have
the opportunity

to be physically active
during the school day

don't usually compensate
during the after-school hours.

Running around helps the brain.

Thanks to advances in brain research,

we know that most of the brain
is activated during physical activity

much more so than being a couch potato.

Now, stand up,

and do ten jumping jacks when I say go.

Go!

One, two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Now, sit down.

I imagine a world where every child
gets lots of playtime.

I hope that if you have children,

you will make sure that those children
get lots of playtime.

Thank you.

(Applause)