Are Kids Getting Enough Time for Recess?

New guidelines have been released for schools to follow to optimize recess for students in grades K-12.
 

Kids are encouraged to have 60 minutes of physical activity daily. But not all schools follow the recommendations, even though research has shown physical activity can contribute to academic success.

SHAPE America, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring children are leading healthy and physically active lives, created guidelines to specify strategies for schools to use during recess. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released these documents on Jan. 10, according to a press release.

The first document is called “Strategies for Recess in Schools,” and points out 19 evidence-based methods schools can use to help students achieve academic success through increased physical activity. 

The second document is called “Recess Planning in Schools: A Guide to Putting Strategies for Recess Into Practice” that includes a customizable Recess Planning Template for schools to follow and use.