Kids Need Recess, So Give It to Them

Without enough unstructured play, children suffer cognitively, emotionally, and socially, weakening the foundations of healthy families, communities, and society itself.

The argument: Dedicated daily outdoor playtime is an integral part of children’s learning and formation, and science proves it.

WHY IT MATTERS

School-aged children in Western nations are increasingly depressed, medicated, and falling behind academically–boys in particular. Many never develop the prosocial habits necessary to thrive as adults. Simultaneously, children are spending less time outdoors and have fewer opportunities for unstructured interaction with their peers. Giving them a chance to move, rest, play, and reset during daily recess could help reverse these troubling trends while supporting healthier overall development.

Unfortunately, many elementary and middle schools have cut back on recess in order to devote more time to classroom instruction or social-emotional learning. Even in states where recess is mandated by law, it’s often a mere 20 minutes and only applies to grades K-5. This minute amount is inadequate, especially given the growing evidence that children benefit from regular opportunities for unstructured play and outdoor activity throughout childhood and early adolescence. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg American Public Health Initiative, for instance, posit that “a primary cause of the rise in mental health disorders among children is a decline in opportunities for play.”