(ABC) – A new report says recess is an important part of the school day.
Of course there’s reading, writing and arithmetic, but now the American Academy of Pediatrics says don’t leave out recess.
The academy calls recess a “crucial and necessary component of a child’s development” that “should not be withheld for punitive or academic reasons.”
The AAP recommends that students get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. However, they say recess is not a substitute for physical education.
Recess is defined as unstructured physical activity and play.
Pediatricians say well-supervised recess affords cognitive, social and emotional benefits, including stress management and being more attentive in class.
