Pediatricians Urge Schools to Protect 20 Minutes of Daily Recess as 40% of Districts Cut It
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 11
Pediatricians Urge Schools to Protect 20 Minutes of Daily Recess as 40% of Districts Cut It
12 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 11
Updated guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics calls on schools to preserve recess, recommending at least 20 minutes a day and multiple breaks for students of all ages.
The group says unstructured play improves focus, memory, social skills and physical activity, a concern as 1 in 5 U.S. children and teens have obesity.
Up to 40% of U.S. school districts have reduced or eliminated recess since the mid-2000s, and the guidance warns schools not to withhold it as punishment.
Doctors also point to rising screen time among older students and say more frequent breaks—common in Denmark, Japan and the UK—could improve both learning and well-being.
As academic pressures rise, is unstructured playtime an unaffordable luxury for America's students?
If recess is a biological need, why do most principals still use it as a tool for punishment?