Школы Спрингфилда превышают государственный минимум, обеспечивая ученикам 30 минут перемены ежедневно

How Springfield Public Schools makes sure kids have enough playtime and class time SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - In the state of Missouri, elementary schools are required to offer 20 minutes of recess a day. Springfield Public Schools offer more than that. School days include a lot of structured time following tight schedules, so having unstructured time motivated by fun is very helpful, especially for young kids. Recess can act as a mental break for kids, helping them return to class recharged and more focused. It also helps them learn important life lessons like problem solving skills and social skills. “It’s important for all,” said SPS Health and Physical Education Coordinator Brad Brummel, “but our youngest students really benefit from the opportunity to be creative, to think creatively, to pretend play, to use those social skills, to problem solve, and our playgrounds and our recess is the perfect opportunity for that.” Springfield Public Schools go above that limit and require 30 minutes of recess time each day and encourage students to get active in before and after school clubs. Kids can definitely still be a little rowdy after all of this play time, but teachers can help pull some of that energy into something positive for the classroom. “It’s certainly a challenge to balance that,” Brummel said. “I think ultimately, our classroom teachers are just fantastic at using transitions and management skills to just help students with that transition, help them transition their bodies and their emotions. You just want to take advantage of every opportunity we get with students.” When back in the classroom, the movement doesn’t have to stop. Teachers of all age levels can incorporate movement into their lessons—even something as simple as having students stand to share their answers. “If the movement is structured and intentional,” said Brummel, “the energy that comes out of that can be funneled into the learning process. If you tell kids to just get up and dance and just give them no sturcture, then the energy will follow that like sometimes kids coming in from recess. If the movement is structured and tight, the energy will flow into the benefit of the learning.” The first day of school for SPS is Tuesday, August 25. To report a correction or typo, please email [email protected]. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email. Copyright 2026 KY3. All rights reserved.