How much recess time do your kids get?

[Heavenly]

We are switching to a new school this year and it has less recess time than our old school. Our old school had 15 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes at lunch (with 20 minutes to eat before that), and 15 minutes in the afternoon. Our new school only has 15 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at lunch (with 15 minutes to eat). I'm a little concerned about them being at school for so long with only 1 hour total of break time (and part of that time is eating, not playing). They are there from 8:45am-3:10pm, so 6 hours and 25 minutes.

[oceanbaby]

What grade? In our school, K-3 gets 15 mins in the morning, 40 min lunch (20 to eat and 20 to play), and then another 15 min afternoon recess. Grades 4-5 get the same but without the afternoon recess. (I think 4-5 should get an afternoon recess as well, however.)

[CarrieMF]

both the school division my kids go to & the school division I work in have 15min in the morning, 15min in the afternoon. my kids school division has 20 min to eat & 30 min of recess at lunch. The school division I work in has 20min to each & 20min of recess at lunch.

how often does your school have gym? If they have a good gym class every day then I wouldn't be as bothered.

[Heavenly]

My youngest is going into JK, I am pretty sure she gets an afternoon recess as well. The schedule I listed is for all grades - SK-8. So basically a 5 year old would be expected to have only 45 minutes of play time a day. I'm not sure of their gym schedule but if it's anything like most schools around here it's 2-3 times a week at the most. Probably more like 2. Oh well, everything else about the school was worth switching for so I'll guess we'll have to deal with it.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

So basically a 5 year old would be expected to have only 45 minutes of play time a day.

I would guess that parts of their day are pretty mellow -- art projects, being read to, hands on math, and such. Just because it isn't recess doesn't mean that it isn't fun. Hopefully, big chunks of the school day will feel like play for a 5 year old!

Our school last year didn't have recess for grade 6 and up, but they had 45 min. PE every day. They found they had fewer discipline problems that way and the kids moved around more.

The alternative school my kids are going to this year has a solid hour for lunch, and kids can ate, play outside, play boardgames inside, etc as they wish. Every school is different.

[Owen'nZoe]

My son's school (K-1) does 1-15 minute recess and 1-30 minute recess, for a total of 45 minutes outside. I completely agree that it isn't enough for a 7 hour day. They do have gym 3 days a week, but that isn't unstructured time and they don't get fresh air. Kindergarteners do not have any guaranteed unstructured time (true free choice time) at our school either (they get it a few times a week if there is time).

[MJB]

The public schools around her have one 20 minute recess per day, and they don't even have to do that on the day they have PE.

[LynnS6]

Last year, my 3rd grader got;
20 minutes before school
30 minutes at lunch
15 minutes in the afternoon

I believe that 1st graders get one more recess in there somewhere.

[Hatteras Gal]

My 3rd grader only gets 15 minutes after lunch for recess. She has gym 3x a week for 30 minutes. My first grader gets 3 15 minute recesses and she has gym 2x a week.

[Tigerchild]

15 mins available before first school bell rings
15 minutes mid-morning
30 mins (lunch is separate) lunch recess
15 mins afternoon

2 days of 45 min PE a week (that's not total free play though, so I'm not really sure that should be counted in the total).

The above is for all kids 1-6.

Now, for either 15 minute recess, individual teachers can hold their class from going out. I don't know how often that happens with the older grades--I've just got a 3rd grader and 2 2nds.

[jillmamma]

My kids get 30 minutes for lunch and 15 minutes recess after lunch; PE 2-3 times per week. Their school goes from K-4th.
Posted via Mobile Device

[One_Girl]

My dd gets 20 minute recesses in the morning and afternoon and a 45 minute lunch period (15 of which is eating time). In our public schools kids get 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon and a 45 minute lunch (15 to eat and the rest to play) until they reach 5th grade and then they only get lunch and one recess. All grades are required to have at least one recess and a lunch with recess daily even if they have PE that day. Recess is considered a very important time of the day here luckily so kids staying in for whole recesses and stuff like that isn't usually a problem.