When it comes to a child’s health, you could probably rattle off a list of the most common concerns: nutritious food, regular physical activity, a consistent sleep schedule, and socio-emotional support. When it comes to their academic success, you might be thinking about their ability to read or their understanding of multiplication.
Then there’s recess. It’s a common part of a child’s day. Now the American Academy of Pediatrics is saying it might be more important than a lot of people realize. The association recently released a policy statement titled The Crucial Role of Recess in School, the first update to its position since 2013, and made its stance clear: Recess isn’t frivolous “extra” time. The opportunity for unstructured play is a crucial part of development—improving a child’s physical, social, and cognitive health. Here’s why:
1. They learn social and emotional skills
Playtime’s physical benefits are obvious—when a kid has the chance to run around on the playground with their friends, they’re getting the kind of movement they need for strong growing bodies. This is especially important in an era of TVs and tablets, when children are more likely to be sedentary, even during non-school hours at home. What might be less obvious to us are the ways play can benefit the social and emotional health of children. The AAP explains that playtime with their peers is when children learn how to communicate with one another and form relationships. They learn not only self-regulation of their emotions but also conflict resolution when they have any kind of problem or disagreement (big or small) with their friends.
2. It improves their education
In addition to physical and social health, play is good for cognitive health. Recess is a crucial part of the school day because it gives children a break from structured educational activity—and breaks are necessary if children are going to be good students. A break in the day improves their focus and manages their energy so they behave better during structured times.
3. It’s not the same as gym class
Because playtime is a part of the day when children run around and engage in physical activity, it’s easy to think it’s like physical education—both are focused on exercise and movement. But the AAP emphasizes that recess is different from phys ed. In class, children are receiving instruction and structured activities to understand motor skills and fitness. They might enjoy the games or activities they’re doing, but it’s not the same as unstructured, self-directed play, which is different from play that’s organized and directed by adults. When children’s play is unstructured, they gain a sense of autonomy, and they learn to cooperate and solve problems among themselves.
That’s not to say recess or playtime should be entirely unsupervised—having a responsible adult supervising and ready to intervene is what ensures playtime remains safe and healthy for all involved.
This is especially true when it comes to being inclusive, because adults can encourage children to make accommodations for their peers with physical, medical, behavioral, or special needs. Learning to be inclusive is another key component of a child’s social-emotional health.
4. Time matters
One of the parameters the AAP recommends for recess is that it’s a sufficient amount of time. Children should have at least 20 minutes of cumulative unstructured playtime throughout the day, but ideally, children should have a short 15- to 20-minute break after 45 minutes to an hour of instruction. Too much instruction time without recess can cause a kid to suffer cognitive fatigue; it’s easier to prevent this fatigue with frequent breaks than it is to recover from it after children have already reached that point.
One of these recess periods throughout the day should come before (not after) lunch. When recess is scheduled after lunch, excited children could be inclined to rush through eating or throw their lunch away without finishing it. Recess before lunch gives children the full opportunity to enjoy this time of day without risking nutritional deficiency.
5. Recess shouldn’t be withheld
Taking away a child’s recess time because they misbehaved or because they need to make up missed classwork seems like a harmless or even reasonable practice, but the AAP says you shouldn’t do this. Given the importance of playtime, taking it away for disciplinary or academic reasons is counterproductive. In fact, a child who is struggling behaviorally or academically needs playtime the most!
6. Some degree of risk isn’t always bad
Playtime should always be safe, but that doesn’t mean it should be risk-free. Playing will always involve an appropriate level of risk—climbing, running fast, swinging, and rough-and-tumble play all carry some chance that a child could be hurt. By engaging in these activities, a child learns self-regulation and risk assessment. In other words, it’s not good for children to be helicoptered by adults. Adult supervision should be appropriately hands-off and ready to intervene only if there’s a serious risk to safety or well-being.
7. Playtime is for every child
Despite the benefits of play, the AAP acknowledges that under-resourced schools and students from marginalized groups might not have the same opportunities. For example, an under-resourced school might not be able to offer the same kind of playground equipment, or a marginalized student is more likely to face disproportionate disciplinary actions that keep them off the playground. Therefore, the AAP calls for policies that make sure access to playtime is equitable and inclusive.
How About for Adults?
Sure, playtime is great for kids—but how about adults? Yes, planning some time into your schedule for unstructured play is good for you no matter how old you are. So, if you’re tired of adulting and wishing you could bring the joy of recess back into your life as a grown-up, consider these benefits: Having fun reduces your stress levels and promotes positive emotions. This could be as simple as playing a board game or doing a puzzle, but you could also engage your dog in fetch or sign up for a recreational sports league. Playing with your adult peers fosters the same sense of cooperation, trust, and communication that it fosters in children. Visit an escape room or attend trivia night with a group of people from work or your neighborhood so you all can work together toward a common goal in a low-stakes environment. Friends and/or romantic partners who engage in playful activities together often feel closer because they share positive experiences. It could be as simple as a bike ride or a hike.
