Recess Rocks in RI celebrates 10th anniversary, launches 4th annual Active Indoor Recess Week
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In New England, outdoor school recess can often be an unfortunate casualty of cold, wet and snowy winter weather, sometimes for days and weeks on end. But with a little bit of creativity and commitment, moving recess indoors can still offer children the physical activity and social interactions they need to thrive, grow, and stay healthy.
That’s the goal of the 4th annual Active Indoor Recess Week, a program of Recess Rocks in Rhode Island that will be celebrated January 13-17. Not only will the weeklong event highlight the benefits of active recess, but it will also provide interested Rhode Island schools and educators with free and easily accessible training and resources to make indoor activities enriching and enjoyable.
All schools and youth-serving organizations in Rhode Island are invited to participate in Active Indoor Recess Week’s activities and are encouraged to register online. Schools and educators that sign up will receive daily emails featuring activities and resources to incorporate into their recess. Activities will also be shared on the Recess Rocks in RI Facebook Group.
Recess Rocks in RI, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is a partnership between Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Playworks New England, and Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition. It is a free training program for school and recess staff designed to ensure that recess is a safe, meaningful, and healthy experience for every child.
“No matter the weather or the time of year, it’s vital for the healthy development of children to have consistent access to active and social play throughout the school year,” said Jessi Jasper, Playworks New England Regional Partnerships Manager. “For 10 years, Recess Rocks in RI has been supporting fun and healthy play for children and, with Active Indoor Recess Week, we’ve been successfully lending our expertise to school educators who might not otherwise have the time or resources to develop effective and engaging alternatives to outdoor play.”
Carolyn Belisle, BCBSRI vice president of corporate social responsibility, said, “We’re proud to have developed Recess Rocks in RI a decade ago with our incredible partners. High-quality recess is vital for schoolchildren, promoting both physical and mental health and wellbeing. In addition to increasing critical physical activity, quality recess time aids emotional regulation, social skills, and cognitive development, serving as a protective factor against mental health issues. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to support for so many years Rhode Island schools and educators in our shared mission of wellbeing for our kids. Active Indoor Recess Week has been a great addition, ensuring children stay active despite New England weather challenges.”
Since 2015, Recess Rocks in RI has served:
- More than 44,250 students
- 125 schools
- 32 districts and eight charters (including 25 that are “Fully Rocked,” where every elementary school in the district or charter network participates)
- 98% of participating schools report an increase in students who are physically active
- 97% find that Playworks creates a safe and effective learning environment
- 84% report a decrease in bullying incidents
The results have been remarkable:
On Monday, the first day of Active Indoor Recess Week, a virtual workshop, “Indoor Recess Made Easy: 10 Games & Tips to Get Kids Moving,” will be held for school staff from 4 to 5 p.m. In this session, educators will learn games and best practices to engage students in activities. Regardless of whether a school is large or small, new or old, or urban or suburban, indoor activities can be offered that benefit all students equitably. Different types of games and activities will be shared on each day of Active Indoor Recess Week, along with resources for transitioning students from recess back to learning.
Educators are encouraged to share their classroom or school’s participation using a self-reporting form (and tag #ActiveIndoorRecessRI on social media). Schools and classrooms that share their participation will be entered into a raffle for fun prizes and experiences for the school that continue to support safe and healthy play throughout the school year.
