Why Is Recess Important?

Recess is often the only time for students to participate in physical, social, and emotional activities during a school day.

Regular physical activity can provide the following benefits:

• Reduces the risk for obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases

• Assists in improved academic performance

• Helps children feel better about themselves

• Reduces the risk for depression and the effects of stress

• Helps children prepare to be productive, healthy members of society

• Improves overall quality of life (National Association for Sport and Physical Education, 2011)

Recess also provides the opportunity for students to develop and improve social and emotional skills. Playing freely with peers allows students to develop skills for seeing things through another person’s point of view. Recess also gives students a chance to gain:

• Cooperation, helping, and sharing skills

• Respect for rules

• Conflict-resolution skills

• Language skills for communicating with peers

• Turn-taking skills

• Problem-solving skills in real-life situations

Finally, many students who have recess display an improvement in both their attention and their ability to stay on task during the school day. When students release energy during recess, they tend to be less fidgety and have better behavior while focusing on learning in their classrooms.