After decades of diminished recess time, nearly 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 is mandated in 12 states and D.C., and laws requiring physical activity exist in 12 states, according to Johns Hopkins research.

Zoom in: Georgia law requires recess for all students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

• The law, which took effect starting in the 2022-2023 school year, allows exceptions if the student participated in a PE class or structured activity time that same day.

Between the lines: "Physical activity" laws are broader than "recess" ones.

• They could include after-school sports and gym class. And, separately, nearly every state has P.E. legislation.
• But physical activity and P.E. laws don't necessarily require free play, which advocates say is a daily necessity for kids.

The big picture: Unstructured play doesn't just teach social skills, but 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," psychologist Peter Gray, author of forthcoming "Restoring Childhood," tells Axios.

Catch up quick: From 2001 to 2019, weekly recess time in U.S. schools dropped by 60 minutes, education consulting company EAB found.

• One oft-cited factor for the decline: The signing of "No Child Left Behind" in 2002, which led to more time focused on reading, math and school testing — and less on recess.

About 739,000 metro Atlanta public school students are returning to the classroom this week for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

Why it matters: Remember to watch out for little ones waiting on the school buses and parents navigating school drop-off lines. And slow down in school zones.

The latest: Today is the first day of classes for students in Atlanta Public Schools, City Schools of Decatur, and the Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Henry county school systems.

• Marietta City Schools students go back to class on Tuesday,
• Gwinnett County Public Schools, the state's largest district, resumes classes on Wednesday while Forsyth County School System starts the new year on Thursday.

By the numbers: Atlanta Public Schools' enrollment sits at a little more than 49,000 students.

• Estimated enrollment for other districts include: Cherokee (40,000), Clayton (49,000), Cobb (103,000), Decatur (5,200) DeKalb (89,000), Fulton (85,000), Gwinnett (178,000), Forsyth (54,000) Henry (42,000) and Marietta (8,500).

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U.S. families expect to spend nearly $1,000 on average on back-to-school shopping this year, according to a PwC survey.

• Nearly half expect to spend more than they did last year.

State of play: Families in the Northeast, West and Midwest plan to outspend the national average of $922 — which includes clothes, tech, equipment for after-school activities, books, school supplies and other one-time purchases.

What's happening: Prices are higher, classroom needs have changed and kids have more say over what families buy — including requests for pricier items.

• They're seeing more ads on screens and often using digital wallets to buy things without parental interference, PwC's Kelly Pedersen tells Axios.

Reality check: The spending doesn't stop once school starts.

• Households nationwide plan to spend $635 a month on recurring expenses like meals, snacks and tutoring, per PwC.

Starting this school year, Georgia schools will join others across the U.S. cracking down on student cellphone use.

• But a new study finds the restrictions bring mixed results.

The big picture: Schools that require students to lock away their phones during class have seen phone use decline substantially, according to the study shared by the National Bureau of Economic Research in April.

• Student well-being also appears to improve the longer the rules remain in place.

Yes, but: "For academic achievement, average effects on test scores are consistently close to zero," the researchers wrote.

• And they found "little evidence" those policies affect attendance, attention in class or perceived online bullying.

By the numbers: As of this year, roughly two-thirds of states have enacted legislation limiting student phone access, per the study.

Zoom in: Georgia law requires students in kindergarten through eighth grade to put away their phones from "bell to bell."

• The ban will also apply to Georgia high school classrooms by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year.

Catch up quick: School cellphone bans gained bipartisan support over the past few years as concerns grew about worsening youth mental health and plunging test scores post-pandemic, the Washington Post reports.

The bottom line: Cellphone bans may still benefit students — even if they don't directly translate into higher test scores.

🚗 Metro Atlanta luxury auto dealer giant Hennessy Automobile Companies is being purchased by Group 1, a publicly traded automotive dealership group, in a deal valued at $1.3 billion. (AJC)

⚡️ Jasper officials say lightning appears to have struck a monument honoring Gen. James Oglethorpe, Georgia's founder, when severe storms hit the North Georgia city's downtown this past Wednesday. (WSB-TV)