If you really want to know what makes recess an important part of a child's school day, you will have to go back some years down your memory lane. Or just have a conversation with a school age boy and notice that distinct thrill in his eyes when he tells you about recess activities.
Recess means taking a breath, a change from the boring academic books (seemingly boring for a kid who reads them at that age). A time to eat, to dance, to run, to utilize the sandbox, to talk, to share, to play and to do so many other things that are not possible under a vigilant eye. And it becomes all the more important in schools for gifted children. Recess brings a lot of motivation in gifted children as they get a chance to share their views and to make friends with others.
I completely agree with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, who emphasize on the importance of recess especially for gifted children. Recess is an ideal opportunity to participate freely in a social and cultural life. Teaching gifted children and others in lieu of recess is going to become a sad reality. Playtime and recess help the students in several ways, some of which include:
- helping children to have an overall positive developmental process (i.e. physical as well as mental).
- It is the time when children develop their socializing skills.
- helping the children mingle with the crowd and learn from other students be it something related to studies, culture or any other thing that interests kids.
- helping children to be themselves and learn to move along to face the real world without having anyone to dominate or guide.
- For gifted children, it is the time when they can have an application of their advanced thinking on world-related matters.
- Gifted children can connect with the children around them in a better way by playing the same games that other kids of the same age play.
