A necessary ‘reset’: Suburban schools support pediatrics group’s new guidance on recess

Updated recess guidelines from the Itasca-based American Academy of Pediatrics this week resonated with suburban school officials, who already embrace the break’s importance — some even for older children — in both principle and practice.

The new guidelines, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, note that recess is vital to maintaining strong grades and good health — and shouldn’t be viewed as just a fun diversion. The statement from the group, the first new guidance in 13 years, stresses that unstructured play time is important for kids of all ages.

New evidence shows that kids need pauses in learning to help the brain store information. Researchers also say recess gives kids a chance to navigate relationships and build confidence, which is just as important for older kids as younger ones.

It’s a philosophy some suburban schools already have adopted despite Illinois law mandating 30 minutes of daily recess only for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

In Libertyville Elementary District 70, every grade from kindergarten through eighth has a formal recess block. Students also get regular in-classroom movement breaks throughout the day, officials said.

“These short bursts of activity are scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve memory retention by giving the brain a necessary ‘reset,’” said Robin Smith Kollman, District 70 director of communications. “Libertyville School District 70 is fully aligned with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ stance that ‘wakeful rest’ is essential for adolescent brain development.”

Students also have physical education, she added.

“We view the AAP’s latest guidance as a validation of our current model, and we are always open to evaluating our schedule to ensure these pauses are as effective as possible for our students’ mental health and focus,” Kollman said.

Aurora-based Indian Prairie Unit District 204 incorporates a dedicated time block in its middle and high school schedules designed for academic support, social-emotional learning and intervention.

The American Academy of Pediatrics always has supported “free play for kids,” according to Dr. Robert Murray, a lead author of the new policy statement.

Murray and his colleagues also stress the importance of physical activity in preventing obesity.

Yet, since the mid-2000s, up to 40% of school districts nationally have reduced or eliminated recess, according to data from the group Springboard to Active Schools in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Experts also recommend outdoor breaks for middle and high school students, who devote more of their day to screen time.

Limiting such distractions is a new strategy at Illinois’ second-largest school district.

Elgin Area School District U-46 this year has required middle schoolers to lock up their cellphones in pouches each morning. Students don’t have access to their phones during the school day.

“Without students having access to their wireless devices, our middle school principals report that students are engaging more with each other face-to-face, prompting principals to purchase board games for students to play during their lunch breaks,” said Annette Acevedo, assistant superintendent of schools.

The district also supports students’ mental, physical, social and emotional growth in different ways.

“Middle and high schools offer extracurricular activities, clubs, and athletics that support physical health and teamwork,” Acevedo said. “Some teachers incorporate flexible classroom practices where students engage in quick games or mindfulness activities.”

Changing times

Recess time varies widely across U.S. schools, ranging from less than 10 minutes to more than an hour a day, the pediatrics group said.

Ideally, studies show, kids should get a minimum of 20 minutes a day and multiple breaks. In Denmark, Japan and some other countries, students get breaks after every 45 to 50 minutes of classroom instruction.

Among suburban schools, Palatine Township Elementary District 15 exceeds the state requirement by offering a 60-minute combined lunch and recess block each day for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It ensures students have meaningful time for unstructured play, movement, peer interaction and social development, officials said.

At the middle school level, District 15 incorporates opportunities for movement and socialization such as a 30-minute lunch period, which exceeds the state requirement of 20 minutes. Students also participate in daily physical education classes and benefit from passing periods and transition times that offer important brain breaks, officials added.

Even where there isn’t a specific recess period for higher grades, some schools emphasize physical education as a necessary release.

“Our middle school students have PE every day for one period (42 minutes) and two periods of related arts where they explore music, art, computer and STEM,” said Jill Unger, Mundelein Elementary District 75’s director of teaching and learning.

• Daily Herald wire services contributed to this report.