The American Academy of Pediatrics says free and unstructured play is healthy and essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recognizes the right of all children to play, regarding it as "an essential part of their well-being.”

Many studies show that recess decreases disruption in the classroom and improves learning.

At present, Montclair public school children get roughly 22 minutes for lunch and 23 minutes for recess, and spend much of the winter having indoor recess in their classrooms.

With our children's best interests in mind, we ask that a district-wide school recess policy be written that ensures;

1) Recess will be protected for every child and may never be removed from a child for punitive reasons.

2) Recess will be entirely unstructured time.

3) Recess will be given no less than 40 minutes per day in addition to the current time allotted for eating, for grades K-5. (This is a first step. Parents and the district may wish to discuss increases in recess time for higher grades in the future.)

4) Recess will be outdoors, unless conditions pose a danger to children, or a child has an IEP or medical condition precluding outdoor play. It is not reasonable to call indoor recess simply because there is light rain, snow on the ground, or that temperatures have dropped below 35 degrees F.

5) Indoor Recess can be called when temperatures fall below 20 degrees F (as in Massachusetts and other states with harsh winters)
Montclair Parents for Recess note that children in colder climates, such as Canada and Alaska, play outdoors at school during the winter, and that inclement weather clothing can be supplemented for children needing it.
Additionally, sensible adjustments can be made such that children wearing snow pants, gloves, and boots, may play in the snow, while children not wearing snow gear can play on plowed surfaces. Natural light and fresh air is a priority.

6) Indoor recess will be unstructured time, away from desks and preferably outside of the classroom if possible, encouraging freedom for movement and socialization.