PA To Consider Mandating Elementary School Recess

HARRISBURG, PA — Recess could become a required part of an elementary school student's day in Pennsylvania under legislation a state lawmaker is preparing to introduce.

The bill, to be sponsored by Rep. Tim Briggs, would provide students a minimum of 30 minutes of unstructured recreational play per day. The Montgomery County Democrat contends students would benefit from recess after returning to school still amid a pandemic that "has led to an increase in obesity and heightened levels of stress (and) anxiety."

"Since our children will continue to deal with the aforementioned challenges while facing a 'new normal' at school, I believe it is imperative that we consider means to improve our children’s mental and physical well-being while they are in our collective care in the school setting," Briggs wrote in a recent memo to colleagues.

Briggs did not detail whether his legislation would add an extra half-hour to the school day for recess or whether the time would be taken away from current classroom instruction.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recess benefits students by:

• Increasing their level of physical activity.
• Improving their memory, attention, and concentration.
• Helping them stay on-task in the classroom.
• Reducing disruptive behavior in the classroom.
• Improving their social and emotional development, such as learning how to share and negotiate.

"Our children are our collective future," Briggs stated in the memo. "Let’s make sure they have time to 'play and re-energize while gaining the benefits of physical activity that will keep them healthier and happier throughout life, while also reducing personal and societal medical costs. "

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