Our children, particularly those in the 4th grade, are under immense stress due to the lack of sufficient recess time. They miss their longer breaks where they could exercise, relax their minds and simply be kids. This is not just a personal observation but a matter that affects their mental health and emotional well-being.

Research from various health organizations including the CDC emphasizes the importance of daily physical activity for children's development and overall well-being. Studies from other countries have shown positive correlations between regular recess and improved cognitive function, suggesting that this is not just a luxury but an essential part of our children's school day.

Despite this evidence, current laws and expectations within our schools do not prioritize this need. We believe it is time for change. It's time we put our children's health first by mandating an hour of daily recess for all minors in schools across Florida.

This isn't just about giving our kids a break - it's about setting them up for success both inside and outside the classroom. By allowing them adequate time to recharge during school hours, we can help foster healthier habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Florida has always been a leader among states; let us lead again by prioritizing our children’s needs over outdated expectations. Let us set an example for others to follow by acknowledging that regular physical activity is crucial to developing young minds.

We urge lawmakers to consider these facts when making decisions about education policy in Florida – because every child deserves the chance to thrive mentally, emotionally, physically – every child deserves an hour of recess each day!

Please sign this petition if you believe in creating healthier environments conducive to learning for all students across Florida!

 

The CDC says:
"During recess, students are encouraged to be physically active and engaged with their peers in activities of their choice, at all grade levels, kindergarten through 12th grade.1,3Recess benefits students by:1,4-7

Increasing their level of physical activity.
Improving their memory, attention, and concentration.
Helping them stay on-task in the classroom.
Reducing disruptive behavior in the classroom.
Improving their social and emotional development (e.g., learning how to share and negotiate)."

From: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/recess.htm 

Finnish children get 15 minute break for every 45 minutes, which studies show great benefit from:

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1114
A post published in Inc. Magazine suggests a break every 60–90 minutes.

https://www.inc.com/ilya-pozin/7-things-highly-productive-people-do.html
According to the time-tracking app, Desktime, the most productive people work for 52 minutes, then take a break for 17 minutes.

More references and links.

1) https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-kids-need-play-and-recess-their-mental-health-may-depend-on-it/2018/08

2)
https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-the-importance-of-play-recess-mindfulness-and-leadership/2017/10

3) https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/recess.htm#:~:text=Recess%20benefits%20students%20by%3A&text=Increasing%20their%20level%20of%20physical,on%2Dtask%20in%20the%20classroom

4)
https://www.yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2019/05/15/do-kids-need-recess-heck-yes-and-here-is-why/

5) 
https://crane.osu.edu/our-work/why-we-need-recess-now-more-than-ever/

6)
https://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/childrens-health-wellness/why-kids-need-recess.html

7) 
https://hechingerreport.org/play-is-crucial-for-middle-schoolers-too/

8)
https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/gfnd/gfhnrc/docs/news-articles/2013/the-crucial-role-of-recess/#:~:text=The%20peer%20interactions%20that%20occur,solving%2C%20negotiation%2C%20and%20compromise

9) https://time.com/4982061/recess-benefits-research-debate/

10) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10319329/

11) https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/benefits-of-recess/

12) https://www.recessguardians.org/post/science-backed-benefits-of-recess

13) https://www.studiesweekly.com/recess/

The signing can be made anonymously as well.

https://www.change.org/p/mandate-one-hour-of-daily-recess-for-all-school-minors-in-florida?utm_source=petition_page_qr_code&fbclid=IwAR1n6K72fQ53YXrWH9DoF3EWHTE1frpa9Uc46Jmx4nzceas7-LfoEnPUVtY