It Is Not Called Recess Anymore: Breaktime in Middle School

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Development
• Educational Psychology
• School Health

Background:

• School recess is crucial for student breaks, social interaction, play, and physical activity.
• Existing research primarily focuses on elementary schools, neglecting older students.
• Early adolescents require structured school breaks to support their developmental needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how middle school breaktime is organized.
• To understand how to best support the developmental needs of middle schoolers during breaks.
• To identify factors influencing breaktime activities and organization in middle schools.

Main Methods:

• The study was conducted in three California middle schools.
• Data collection involved observations, interviews, and a student survey in 2018.
• Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data.

Main Results:

• A tradeoff exists between socialization and physical activity, varying by student age and gender.
• Adult supervisors primarily focused on ensuring physical and emotional safety during breaks.
• Limited resources impacted the variety of breaktime offerings, with most access to outdoor and limited indoor spaces.

Conclusions:

• Organizing middle school breaktime presents complexities.
• Breaks should incorporate developmentally appropriate activities, including games, sports, and social interaction.
• Safe and supportive environments are essential for effective middle school breaktime.