Recess is much more than a break between classes. The benefits of this time outside of the classroom can be just as meaningful to a child’s development as time spent in the classroom.
Recess provides an opportunity for kids to clear their minds so they can stay focused throughout the day. It’s also a chance for kids to get outside and MOVE; beyond supporting health and fitness levels, physical activity releases endorphins in the brain that can help reduce anxiety. Kids’ social skills are at play during recess too! These regular breaks help develop soft skills by giving kids time to bond and socialize with their peers. Time outside with friends or trying a new activity can also spark kids’ imaginations, nurture creativity, or find a new favourite hobby.
Check out our expertly curated collection to help kids make the most of recess play!
The joy of jumping rope will have kids laughing as they improve their physical fitness, build concentration, and develop motor skills and bilateral motor coordination.
Try to set a record between friends: who can skip the longest?
Teach kids fun and easy jump rope games like Riverbank or Snake Slither to get a group involved in the fun!
The wonderful thing about chalk is how it can transform driveways, sidewalks, and schoolyards from your everyday concrete into a blank canvas. With chalk, kids can let their imaginations run wild, while developing colour recognition, improving fine motor skills, and encouraging their creative side.
Use the chalk to draw fun outdoor sidewalk games like hopscotch or four squares! It’s a great way for kids to use their creative juices and burn off some energy in between class.
Create your very own concrete art gallery by using each sidewalk block as the frame for a new masterpiece. Get creative and try out all sorts of artistic styles, from portraits to landscapes to abstract. Kids can have fun with it and have students and neighbours enjoy their beautiful works of art!
Playing with soapy spheres is not only mesmerizing, it’s bursting with benefits for kids. Playing with bubbles helps kids develop visual tracking skills and hand-eye/foot-eye coordination while teaching them spatial awareness and directionality. Waving wands in the hopes of creating world-record bubbles is also a tactile, fun way to improve gross motor movement.
Make bubble time into a game by having kids blow a bubble and see who can keep it sky high the longest by continuing to blow on it.
Nature is full of endless discoveries. Introduce kids to the world around them by taking a closer look at the beauty and creatures that are right outside their doors. By doing so, kids gain a sense of responsibility, develop a natural curiosity that can spark new wonders, and get their bodies moving while out on exploration.
Design a scavenger hunt or bingo game to get kids excited about what lies in their own backyards and playgrounds. Include a mix of bugs and birds, flora and fauna, to open their eyes to the great outdoors.
A game of throw and catch is a simple way to develop the body while kids take a break from working their minds. Throwing, catching, and kicking balls helps develop arm and leg muscles, improves fitness and awareness of how the body moves, as well as builds hand-eye coordination and gross and fine motor skills.
Invite kids to set up a kick ball game where players can have the opportunity to kick, catch, and throw the ball. Keep score for a friendly competition, or make it just for fun!
Encourage kids to try out a new skill by bouncing a mesh ball off their hands or feet (or an OGODisk) and see how long they can keep it in the air. Have them try to set a personal best!
