My son has 2-3 recesses per day at school. He is one of the lucky ones. Up to 40% of US school districts have reduced or eliminated recess for various reasons, including to free up time for core academics and to raise scores on standardized tests. This is a poor decision for everyone involved. According to Gallup Survey of Principals on School Recess by the Rober Wood Johnson Foundation, clinical research concludes that play is essential to the social, emotional and physical development of children.
Why recess is an important activity for schools to support
Here are 6 key reasons by Rae Pica, a children’s physical activity specialist:
- Kids that have recess work more and fidget less than days without recess.
- Unstructured physical play reduces stress, kids with less stress learn better.
- Recess is good for social time and interaction with other kids that they don’t get in a classroom setting where they are to be quiet and not talk.
- Kids get much-needed exercise at recess, studies show that kids who play outside at recess are more likely to play outside when they get home.
- Recess and physical activity helps kids brains work better with increased capacity of blood vessels, allowing better delivery of oxygen, water and glucose to the brain.
- Kids need outside light for their immune system and the all importnat Vitamin D.
To improve recess at schools, principles state:
- Schools need more staff to monitor – this is where you can help by volunteering
- Schools need better equipment – this is where Dannon can come in to save the day, with your help!
Dannon Danimals Rally For Recess
Dannon understands the need for recess and have an incredible opportunity for 5 schools to win $20,000 Ultimate Playground with an All-Day Recess Party through the program Danimals Rally For Recess. What school couldn’t use a $20,000 check to upgrade their playground? Plus, what child wouldn’t enjoy a full all-day recess with a climbing wall, a dunk tank, an obstacle course, and a large slide?!
How do you enter to win the Danimals Rally For Recess $20,000 Ultimate Playground?
Simply purchase the delicious Dannon Danimals products with the Rally For Recess logo on the front.
[slickr-flickr tag=shoppingdannon]Enter the printed code from inside the box at Dannon Rally For Recess website. You will need to register your name and school’s name the first time around, then it will remember you each time after when you login. You can also enter more than 1 school, this is perfect if you have more than 1 child that attends different schools or are grandma wanting to make it fair for all your grandkids! Each code equals 1 point, the more points you earn for your school, the better shot you have at the $20,000 Ultimate Playground!
There are also Instant Win Prizes for you! After providing your code at www.rallyforrecess.com and selecting your school, an instant win prize notification will inform you if you are an instant winner. You could win a street hockey stick, basketball, soccer ball, or flag football set, balls, and more.
Danimals Products I Purchased for Rally For Recess
My family eats Dannon yogurts because they are super yummy and good for you. They contain no artificial colors or flavors, no high fructose corn syrup, and are a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamin D.
I just discovered the Dannon Danimals Crush Cups this summer. I bought them when they were on sale and my kids loved them. They exclaimed that they saw them on TV and knew exactly how to eat them! We have been Danimals fans ever since.They are good for school lunch too since they don’t require a spoon to eat.
I decided to buy the Dannon Danimals Smoothies too. My daughter hates milk. Ever since I stopped nursing her as a baby, she has refused to drink milk. Of course we make her drink at least a couple cups a day and then load her with other dairy products & vegetables to ensure she gets enough calcium. I tried the Smoothies a few years ago and she even refused them. I thought it was time to try it again.
To my surprise and delight, my 4 year old daughter (and my 6 year old son) really, really, really liked the Dannon Danimals Smoothies. They each finished one and wanted more! I’m so excited that they like the Danimals Smoothies and will add it to my weekly shopping list. Again, this is a great option for kids school lunches since kids just drink from the bottle.
Help Your School Win a $20,000 Playground
5 schools are going to win, it might as well be your child’s school! Start collecting and entering your Rally For Recess codes today. You can even design posters for your school to get other parents involved in entering to win for your school. Design it here.
You can find out the latest information on the Danimals Facebook page.
I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Danimals and received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
