Pediatricians group finds kids of all ages need regular recess for physical and mental health
The updated guidance says recess should be protected and never withheld, citing research that links at least 20 minutes a day to better learning and health.
- On Monday, the American Academy released new guidance in Pediatrics, the first in 13 years, urging schools to protect recess and never withhold breaks for academic or disciplinary reasons.
- Since the mid-2000s, up to 40% of school districts have reduced or eliminated recess, a trend researchers from Springboard and Active Schools attribute partly to the drive for higher test scores.
- Ideally, students should receive a minimum of 20 minutes of daily recess, while Denmark, Japan, and the United Kingdom provide breaks after 45 minutes to 50 minutes of instruction, helping combat obesity affecting about 1 in 5 children.
- Lauren Fiechtner of Mass General Brigham endorsed the recommendations, highlighting the "movement break" program at Medford High School, where principal Marta Cabral reported reduced student absences since implementation.
- Robert Murray stresses that recess remains vital for older children, not just younger ones, because breaks help the brain store information and allow students to de-stress before subsequent classes.
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79 Articles
New pediatric guidance says kids need more recess, not less
Recess isnt just a fun break for grade schoolers. Its crucial to good health and good grades for kids of all ages.That's the message from a leading pediatricians group, which just released the first new guidance in 13 years about this unstructured time at school and how it needs to be protected.The updated policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics comes after years of shrinking recesses and worsening childrens health.The group has a…
It’s more than just a break
Recess isn’t just a fun break for grade schoolers. It’s crucial to good health and good grades for kids of all ages. That’s the message from a leading pediatricians group, which just released the first new guidance in 13 years about this unstructured time at school and how it needs to be protected. The updated policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics comes after years of shrinking recesses and worsening children’s health. The group…
Recess is critical to academic and social success, pediatricians say — but many schools have cut it
Recess is crucial for students' academic and social development, new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics says. It supports a new wellness policy the School District of Philadelphia enacted earlier this year.
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