Hackensack Meridian Health Experts Share the Benefits of School Recess

Pediatricians and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Specialists Weigh in on American Pediatric Association Statement

Brick, N.J. - May 14. 2026 - Kids need down time during the school day. That’s the reinforced stance of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which issued an updated statement on school recess this week, stressing that it is not just a fun break in the day, but important for the physical, mental, and academic well-being of children in kindergarten through high school. 

This is the first new guidance on recess from the influential pediatricians' group in 13 years, a period that has seen a concerning decline in recess time in schools across the nation, alongside a rise in children's mental and physical health issues. 

The revised policy statement, published in the journal Pediatrics, comes after years of diminishing recess opportunities, often sacrificed in the pursuit of higher standardized test scores, according to Dr. Robert Murray, a lead author of the report.

Central to the AAP's stance is what it cites as a century of research that shows the health advantages of taking breaks from concentrated learning. More recent research now shows that these pauses are vital for the brain to effectively process and store information. Furthermore, the statement highlights that recess provides a unique opportunity for children and adolescents to develop crucial social and emotional skills by navigating relationships, building confidence, and practicing conflict resolution in a less structured environment.

“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,” says Stacy Doumas, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “The American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC both emphasize that recess supports children’s mental health, emotional regulation, physical wellbeing, social development, attention, memory, and classroom performance.”

“At a time when nearly 1 in 5 children struggle 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,” Dr. Doumas adds.

"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,” says Dr. Javier E Aisenberg, 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."

In response to the decline of recess, some states have taken legislative action. New Jersey, for example, mandates at least 20 minutes of daily recess for elementary school students.

A growing number of parents and educators have noted that during indoor recess, students are often allowed to use personal devices like laptops. This can lead to children spending their break time playing video games or watching videos, rather than engaging in valuable face-to-face social interaction with their peers. This trend has sparked a debate about whether screen time during recess undermines the social and emotional benefits of this crucial break.

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

To learn more about children's health, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/kids.

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(photo: vecteezy.com)