ADHD
Kids: What Happens When We Take Away Recess?
A
recently published study published in the School Psychology Quarterly
(Fall 2003) showed that levels of inappropriate behavior were
substantially higher on days when ADHD boys with a diagnosis of
ADHD did not have recess, compared with days when they did have
recess. Just what I’ve been telling school administrators
for 20 years!!!!
The
results did show that inappropriate behavior generally increased
over time for all participants, that is, also the typical peer
groups that were matched to each student with a diagnosis of ADHD,
on days when there was no recess. However, this progressive increase
of inappropriate behavior over time did not occur on days when
the participants did have recess. This effect of preventing further
inappropriate behavior, rather than resulting in an immediate
decrease in inappropriate behavior, may partially contribute to
teachers’ informal reports that they do not observe any
immediate benefits associated with recess.
The
results of this study are consistent with previous findings that
have shown children become less attentive as a function of time
of classroom confinement (Pellegrini et al., 1995) and that, in
general, children are more on task and fidget less when they had
recess, compared with when they did not have recess.
Of
greatest importance is to remember that just about all children
with a diagnosis of ADHD will benefit from recess in regards to
their classroom behavior.
Ridgeway.
A. and Northrup, J., et al., (2003) Effects of recess on classroom
behavior, School Psychology Quarterly, New York Guilford
Pellegrini,
A. (1995) School recess and playground behavior, Educational
and Developmental roles, Albany, NY SUNY Press
April
2003
