Research suggests that children who are more socially competent on the playground are also more likely to graduate from high school, earn a college degree and hold a full-time job two decades later.
Danielle Marshall, executive director of Maryland Playworks, joined ABC2's In Focus to break down local recess laws, discuss how parents can start a conversation with principals and what parents can do to keep kids active.
See video above for full interview
Maryland Playworks in a nonprofit organization that sends coaches to schools to help make recess a safe and healthy place. Playworks aims to increase students' feelings of safety and daily physical activity. The organization provides schools with full time coaches and trains teachers.
Why is recess so important? Playworks says:
- Kids develop important social emotional skills on the playground that they'll use for the rest of their lives to resolve conflict, practice leadership and work together
- Research suggest that children who are more socially competent on the playground are also more likely to graduate from high school, earn a college degree and hold a full-time job
- Recess creates a positive school culture - kids go back to class focused and ready to learn
- Bullying behaviors and disciplinary referrals decrease, meaning teachers have more class time
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