Why Recess Enhancement Program Matters
The Problem
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that children should be physically active for 60 minutes a day with 30 minutes occurring during school hours. Only 50-percent of US children ages 6 to 11 meet this recommendation. Physical inactivity is one of the main contributing factors to obesity. According to the American Medical Association, obesity is the second leading cause of death in the US.
Obesity rates in New York City are still at epidemic levels. More than half of adult New Yorkers are overweight or obese. One in five NYC kindergarten students is obese. And there are even more healthy inequity when considering boroughs, race and economics.
Many New York City schools have cut physical education making recess one of the only opportunities for kids to be physically active in school. The NYC Department of Health surveyed parents and found that outside of school 11-percent of children had less than one hour of physical activity during the week.
Our Solution: Learn how REP is improving the health of NYC kids.
Children can accumulate up to 40-percent of recommended physical activity requirements through a daily, active recess. Recess Enhancement Program (REP) is committed to both the quality and quantity of physical activity at recess. We use evidence-based practices to meet this goal.
According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health, students at REP schools had a rate of vigorous physical activity 52 percent higher than kids without the program.
The study found that:
- Female students in REP schools increased vigorous activity rates by 56 percent
- Male students in REP schools increased vigorous activity rates by 43 percent
- Verbal aggression incidents decreased by four times
What are Current Partner Schools Saying About REP?
“REP has organized a recess program at our school to the point of incidents going down during recess. I have also noticed children playing the games and activities they learn with the recess coach in the community,” said Principal Luis Torres from P.S. 55 in the Bronx.
“Having REP has increased our toolkit of activities and methods of engaging students. It has helped our school aides both at lunch and during recess. The effectiveness of engaging our students has increased with [REP],” said Principal Wanda Soto of P.S. 5 in Manhattan.
