How Recess Helps Kids Learn, Socialize and Thrive

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is once again underscoring a message many parents, teachers and pediatricians have long believed: Recess is not a luxury — it is a vital part of healthy child development. In its revised policy statement updating the organization’s 2013 guidance, the AAP says recess plays an essential role in children’s and adolescents’ physical, emotional, social and cognitive health.

“As both a parent of five and a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I see every day that recess is not a break from learning — it is essential to it,” said Stacy Doumas, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “The AAP and CDC both emphasize that recess supports children’s mental health, emotional regulation, physical well-being, social development, attention, memory and classroom performance.”

The updated statement comes at a time when concerns about youth mental health, stress, screen time and academic pressure continue to grow. Pediatricians say recess offers children something increasingly difficult to find in modern life: unstructured time to move, socialize, decompress and simply play. According to the AAP, these breaks from concentrated academic work help students maintain focus, regulate stress and improve overall well-being.

“We pediatricians are clear: Recess is not simply a fun break, but a crucial and necessary part of the day for a child’s well-being and academic success,” explained Javier E. Aisenberg, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist at Hackensack University Medical Center. ”Recess should be considered a child’s personal time that must be protected and never withheld for academic or punitive reasons.”

The revised guidance also reflects lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many students lost access to in-person school routines, including recess and peer interaction. Researchers and clinicians observed firsthand how isolation and the absence of structured school-day breaks negatively affected children’s mental health and social development. The AAP says those experiences reinforced how critical play and peer engagement are for healthy growth.

“Extended computer and screen time use can contribute to eye strain, headaches, reduced social interaction, reduced physical activity, difficulty maintaining attention and increased mental fatigue,” noted Moses Olorunnisola, M.D., a pediatrician at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “When children are given access to laptops instead of recess time, they miss out on the critical movement, social interaction and mental reset their developing brains and bodies need.”

Importantly, the organization stresses that recess benefits students of all ages — not just younger children. While younger students may engage in active playground games, older students often use recess or break periods for social interaction and stress relief, both of which remain important during adolescence.

The AAP also points to emerging neuroscience research supporting the idea that breaks improve learning. Recess provides what experts call “wakeful rest,” a pause from heavy cognitive demands that helps the brain process and store new information. Physical movement during recess has also been linked to better attention, executive functioning and long-term memory retention.

Beyond academics, recess offers children opportunities to build critical life skills such as communication, cooperation, conflict resolution, emotional regulation and leadership. These peer interactions can help create a more inclusive and supportive school environment while also protecting against loneliness, bullying, substance use and poor mental health outcomes.

The policy statement also addresses equity concerns, noting that students in under-resourced schools and marginalized communities are often less likely to receive consistent recess opportunities. The AAP argues that all students deserve access to quality breaks during the school day and states that recess should never be withheld for academic or disciplinary reasons.

The organization is encouraging pediatricians, families and school leaders to advocate for protected daily recess, improved playground spaces, inclusive play opportunities and policies that recognize recess as an essential component of education — not time taken away from learning, but time that actively supports it.

“At a time when nearly one in five children struggles with obesity and youth mental health concerns continue to rise, protecting time for movement, free play and peer connection during the school day is more important than ever,” said Doumas. “Recess is not extra time — it is a critical developmental need.”