American Pediatricians Urge Schools to Protect Recess as Student Health Declines

Medical Experts Sound the Alarm

The American Academy of Pediatrics released updated guidance for the first time in more than a decade that urges schools to protect recess , marking a critical moment in the ongoing battle between academic pressure and child development. Dr. Robert Murray, a lead author of the new guidance, which was published Monday in the journal Pediatrics , emphasized that "It has a very powerful benefit if it's used to the fullest."

An updated policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics comes after years of shrinking recesses and worsening children's health. The timing couldn't be more urgent. Murray and his colleagues also stressed the importance of physical activity in preventing obesity, a condition that now affects about 1 in 5 U.S. children and teens.

For example, new evidence shows that kids need pauses between concentrated bouts of learning so the brain can hold and store the information. This isn't just about letting kids blow off steam—it's about optimizing how their brains actually function.

The Disappearing Playground

The statistics paint a troubling picture of childhood in America. Since the mid-2000s, up to 40% of school districts nationally have reduced or eliminated recess, according to data from the group Springboard to Active Schools in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What remains varies dramatically: Today, the duration of recess varies widely across U.S. schools, ranging from less than 10 minutes to more than an hour a day, the pediatrics group said.

The group "has always supported play – free play for kids – but it's been increasingly threatened over time," partly by the drive for higher test scores, said Dr. Robert Murray, a lead author. The irony is stark: schools are cutting the very activities that research shows improve academic performance.

Perhaps most troubling is how recess is weaponized against struggling students. Murray said, adding that students struggling with behavioral issues or grades are often the ones who need recess most. "If the child is disruptive or rude and disrespectful, recess is one of the things that teachers use to punish kids," creating a counterproductive cycle.

A Global Perspective on Play

Other countries offer a stark contrast to America's approach. In other countries such as Denmark, Japan and the United Kingdom, students get breaks after every 45 minutes to 50 minutes of classroom instruction. These nations understand something American schools are forgetting: "They should get a long enough period of time where they can de-stress and blow off steam and prepare for the next class," Murray said.

Ideally, studies show, kids should get a minimum of 20 minutes a day and multiple breaks. Yet many American students receive far less, creating a generation of children who are simultaneously overstimulated academically and understimulated physically and socially.

Leading the Change

Some states are beginning to reverse course. A newly enacted law will require 40 minutes of recess per day, up from 20 minutes, for public school students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It will take effect for the 2026-27 school year. For the first time, Oklahoma teachers are legally prohibited from taking away recess as a form of disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, Ohio and Wisconsin lawmakers are considering similar proposals to Oklahoma's to expand recess requirements, and California last year implemented a law requiring at least 30 minutes of recess per day for students through 6th grade. These legislative efforts reflect growing recognition that play isn't frivolous—it's fundamental to healthy development.

As schools grapple with declining test scores and rising mental health concerns, the solution may be simpler than expected: give children time to be children. "We all kind of need recess."