Louisiana among states mandating recess for kids
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After decades of schools diminishing recess time, half of U.S. states now require it or other physical activity by law.
Why it matters: Yes, recess is literally child's play. But researchers, pediatricians and parents say it's crucial for young students' physical and mental health.
By the numbers: As of December, school recess was mandated in 12 states and D.C., and laws requiring physical activity existed in 12 states, according to Johns Hopkins research.
Zoom in: Louisiana requires public schools to give students in kindergarten through fifth grade at least 15 minutes of supervised, unstructured recess each day.
- That's five minutes less than the American Academy of Pediatrics' current recommendation of at least 20 minutes.
The big picture: Unstructured play doesn't just teach social skills; research connects it to increased classroom motivation and behavior, better school attendance, and less stress for students.
- And more physical activity could help academic performance.
What they're saying: "Recess gives you a better feeling about school. Recess refreshes you. Recess helps you feel a little bit less cynical about what's going on," says psychologist Peter Gray, author of the forthcoming book "Restoring Childhood."
- "Anyone who's ever spent even a day with a kid can recognize that if you kept them sitting all day, they'd go insane," says Hannah Thompson, a physical activity epidemiologist with the University of California, Berkeley's Nutrition Policy Institute. "Everybody needs recess."
- Although schools don't tend to fight the idea of recess itself, Thompson says it can be a challenge for administrators to carve out more time for it and ensure it's not withheld as punishment.
The bottom line: "More recess" isn't just a student council campaign promise — it's increasingly seen as essential to the school day.