After a year of teaching in Finland, educator Lucas Bennett stumbled upon a reality that American parents have long suspected: we’re pushing our children too hard.
In an insightful article detailing his experiences, which was featured on KQED News, Bennett highlights the Finnish approach to education, where students typically enjoy a fifteen-minute break after every forty-five minutes of instruction. When he first tried to implement the more rigorous U.S. schedule, he quickly faced challenges. One of his fifth graders exclaimed, “I feel like I’m going to explode! This schedule is too much for me!” It was only the third day of school, and already a student was on the verge of a meltdown.
Realizing the need for change, Bennett adapted to the Finnish way. The transformation was immediate—students became more engaged and less fatigued by the end of lessons. Instead of dragging themselves back into the classroom, they returned with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
At first, Bennett thought he had discovered a hidden gem in teaching practices. However, he soon remembered that Finland has been implementing these crucial breaks since the 1960s. He dove into research and found ample evidence supporting the positive impacts of regular breaks and shorter periods of instruction. Numerous studies from psychologists and educators highlighted the stark contrast between the benefits of the Finnish model and the detrimental effects of the American system’s relentless pace.
While Bennett acknowledges that the rigid structure of U.S. education limits teachers’ ability to fully adopt the Finnish model, he points to initiatives like that of researcher and kinesiologist Sarah Fields, who has successfully integrated more breaks into classrooms across several states, resulting in promising outcomes.
Bennett believes the purpose of these breaks transcends mere playtime. “The key advantage of the Finnish approach lies in its ability to keep students focused by refreshing their minds,” he writes.
Comments from parents on social media reflect a widespread awareness of this issue. Many express frustration over their children’s burnout. For instance, during parent-teacher conferences, I hear praise for my first grader’s abilities, followed by concerns about his fidgeting and lack of focus. Then, they send him home with heaps of homework. After all, he’s only six! Just like many parents, I recognize that my child’s mental well-being is closely linked to his physical state; skip a meal or a nap, and it’s meltdown city. Kids need breaks—not just for physical activity to release pent-up energy, but to give their developing brains the time they need to reset and refocus.
Recess time has been dwindling in American schools, leading to clear negative consequences for students. The benefits of ample breaks are glaringly evident—except to those in positions of authority.
This article originally appeared on April 23, 2017.
In conclusion, it’s evident that the educational landscape in the U.S. needs to evolve to better support our children’s mental and emotional health. For those interested in exploring more about the journey of parenthood, check out our blog post on navigating your fertility journey with an artificial insemination kit. Resources like Healthline provide excellent insights into pregnancy, while Cryobaby offers reliable tools for successful home insemination.
Keyphrase: U.S. schools downtime
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]