Overview

Physical activity during school improves learning, social emotional skills and attention during class. However, recess and physical education are often taken away for punishment for students that didn’t complete their homework or acted out in class. These students may need physical activity the most. Ensure students get the activity they need by keeping them at recess and in physical education (PE) by choosing healthy, alternative consequences.

Take Action

• Educate school administrators, teachers and parents to ensure they understand the importance of recess and PE and how it impacts learning.
• Host a staff professional development on effective classroom management techniques. The less behavioral issues, the less withholding of recess and PE that will occur. Is there a teacher that excels at classroom management who could present?
• Share AFHK’s tip sheet or information at a staff meeting, or send a staff-wide email to train staff on alternatives to withholding recess and PE.
• Ask staff to sign a pledge stating they will not withhold recess and physical education as punishment.
• Work with the school dean or social worker to develop effective consequences for students. Develop a list of behaviors and appropriate, corresponding consequences that aim to improve student behavior and self-discipline.
  Reinforce positive behavior through non-food rewards, recognition or an incentive program to encourage good behavior from students.
• Develop an accountability system. Who can parents and students tell if they are withheld from physical activity? How can staff be held accountable?

Social Emotional Health Highlights

Activities such as these help students explore…

Self-Management: Poor choices are exactly that – poor choices. Helping children understand that a bad choice (behavior) is not inevitable and does not make them a bad person. Creating opportunities for children to reset, reflect and build capacity within themselves to make better choices moving forward begins to build resiliency. Challenging behaviors are often displayed in response to something deeper, whether that be stress or anxiety, hunger or pain. Create spaces that support children in managing stress and impulses through physical activity and brain breaks. Students are better able to organize their thoughts and emotions when a consistent routine Is in place. Opportunities for movement may help to decrease behavior issues in the classroom by helping children to take a step back from the lesson and regroup.

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