Moms Press Eden Prairie Schools For More Recess Time
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- As summer vacation begins, some Eden Prairie moms are already focused on next school year.
A group of moms has petitioned the school district to add more recess time for students.
They want 30 minutes per day, instead of the current 20.
The moms say children need that time to not only play, but to help them focus better on learning.
Mary McMullen is one of the moms asking Eden Prairie schools for the increase. She thinks students should get two 15-minute blocks of free time to break up class time.
"We feel like it's important to address all of the children's basic physiological needs during the school day for best performance," McMullen said.
A school district spokesperson told WCCO they are considering the parents' proposal as part of a 10-year district plan, but current recess time is in line with most Minnesota schools.
"If you look at the research it shows that after 40 minutes of intense concentration on a topic, attention spans begin to wane," McMullen said.
Jennie Pinnow helped McMullen start an online recess petition that has reached more than 700 signatures in the last few months.
"We were overwhelmed by the response that we were receiving from community members," Pinnow said.
Eden Prairie teachers provide breaks throughout the day for children to rest their minds within the classroom.
But these moms say unstructured time to play outside freely is important, especially when children's free time has become increasingly sedentary and spent in front of screens.
"I think it is really important to people, you know, to have their children have that time to engage in social activity, and creative process and negotiation skills," McMullen said.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends 60 minutes per day of physical activity for children.
The moms hope more people will voice their support before the district votes on any recess changes in August.