Why Missing Recess Is More Than Just Missing Out
What a frustrating moment with my son's teacher taught me about recess policy, practice, and the power of play
I started and stopped several emails before finally writing to my child’s third-grade teacher. We’d just dropped my son off at school, and on the way, he told me that a few weeks ago he had missed recess to finish a writing assignment.
I was livid and this close to sending off a strongly worded email.
But I took a beat, and my husband reminded me that I didn’t need to write a manifesto on the importance of recess. The real goal for that day was simple: to make sure he got his recess. (And he did.)
On a follow-up call with the teacher a few days later, I focused on how important recess is—not just for my son, but for all kids.
Research from The American Academy of Pediatrics found that regular access to play improves academic performance, behavior, and emotional regulation; it is essential to children’s overall development, particularly in the early years.1
For younger kids, play helps with exploration and social skills.
As they grow, it becomes more structured, focusing on problem-solving and teamwork.
But across the board, play supports learning in ways that sitting at a desk just can’t.
Even in schools like ours, where kids are getting top-notch instruction, practice doesn’t always align with research. Some teachers, often with good intentions, use recess as a motivational tool, withholding it as a consequence of unfinished work or behavioral issues, rather than treating it as a nonnegotiable.
However, research shows that withholding recess can negatively affect children's behavior and well-being.2 3 One study found that students with regular access to recess displayed better behavior in the classroom compared to those who had recess withheld.4
Additionally, state policies on recess vary widely.5 Some states, like Florida and New Jersey, have adopted laws requiring daily recess, while others leave it to districts or schools to decide, often leading to inconsistent practices.
What’s more, schools serving low-income or marginalized communities are often the first to cut playtime, exacerbating existing inequities in child health and development.6
This wasn’t just about one missed recess. It highlighted how play often disappears from schools as children grow older, despite being critical for development at every age.
As a published author, policy expert, and advisor to foundations and educational organizations with over two decades of experience in early childhood education, I’ve researched, written about, and advocated for education policy at all levels and know how vital play is for a child’s development.
Turns out, I got to write that manifesto after all—because this is it.
Welcome to Recess Digest. Here, we’ll dive into the importance of play in child development and explore the latest research, policies, and actionable strategies to make sure every child gets the playtime they need—at home, in schools, and beyond. When you sign up for my weekly newsletter, you can expect a mix of:
Insights and Research: Breaking down the latest studies on how play impacts learning, behavior, and well-being.
Recess Policies: Updates and analysis on school policies and legislation that affect recess time, so you know what’s happening in your community and beyond.
Communication Tools: Practical ways to navigate difficult conversations with teachers and school leaders, so you can advocate confidently and effectively for your child.
Real-Life Stories: Personal experiences (like this one) and stories from other parents and educators navigating these same challenges.
Practical Play Ideas: Fun, simple ways to incorporate more play into everyday life, even when time is short.
Reflecting on my son’s experience and the broader issues surrounding recess, it became clear that this isn’t just about one child missing playtime. It’s about understanding the bigger picture. What does the state of play look like for children across our schools? How do policies shape whether kids get the playtime they need to grow and thrive?
These are the questions we should be asking—not just as parents, but as a community of educators, policymakers, and advocates—and paying attention to the answers. By examining how recess policies differ from state to state and district to district, and by listening to the experiences of children, parents, and teachers, we can start to understand what’s working and what needs to change.
I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s learn together and do what we can to make sure that play remains a vital part of childhood.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2013). "The Crucial Role of Recess in School." Pediatrics, 131(1), 183-188. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-2993.
Barros, R. M., Silver, E. J., & Stein, R. E. (2009). School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior. Pediatrics, 123(2), 431-436. This study in Pediatrics demonstrated that students who received at least 15 minutes of recess exhibited better behavior in the classroom than students who were denied recess. It underscores the importance of daily recess for behavior management and suggests that withholding recess may worsen behavioral outcomes rather than improve them. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-2825.
Jarrett, O. S., Maxwell, D. M., Dickerson, C., Hoge, P., Davies, G., & Yetley, A. (1998). Impact of Recess on Classroom Behavior: Group Effects and Individual Differences. The Journal of Educational Research, 92(2), 121-126. This study found that recess positively influences students’ attention and behavior in the classroom. The researchers argue that withholding recess as punishment or for academic reasons could exacerbate behavioral issues rather than resolve them. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220679809597584.
Barros et al., 2009.
National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). Recess – State Policies. State Policy Database, 2023. Available at: https://statepolicies.nasbe.org/health/categories/physical-education-physical-activity/recess
Hechinger Report. (2019). "In Schools Serving the Poor, Recess Is Often First to Go." Available at: https://hechingerreport.org/in-schools-serving-the-poor-recess-is-often-first-to-go/.