We are calling for a change in North Carolina law to require two 30-minute, unstructured, screen-free recess periods—one in the morning and one in the afternoon—for all elementary school students, and at least one 30-minute recess period for middle school students. This change is crucial to the health, well-being, and academic success of our children.

The American school day has long been a cornerstone of our culture, immortalized in movies, literature, and fond memories. We take pride in our schools, our friends, and the lessons learned inside and outside the classroom. Education wasn't just about academics—it was a balance of cognitive learning and social-emotional development. And much of that balance was beautifully achieved through recess.

According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, recess is defined as “a period of time in which an organized activity such as study or work is temporarily stopped.” Unfortunately, there is a misconception that recess is "just a break" and not a valuable part of learning. We disagree. Recess provides essential opportunities for children to develop social skills, problem-solving abilities, and emotional regulation—all of which are key components of learning and growth.

A shining example of the benefits of recess is the LiiNK Project® (Let’s Inspire Innovation ‘N Kids), a research initiative started by Dr. Debbie Rhea at Texas Christian University in 2012. Over the past nine years, the LiiNK Project has examined the health, physical achievements, cognitive development, and social-emotional progress of children twice a year. Initially focused on classroom behaviors and attentional fatigue, the project has expanded in its 10th year to study long-term impacts on children’s overall health, including body fat percentage, reaction time, motor skills, and chronic stress. The results are astounding:

6% decrease in overweight and obese body fat percentage in one year,
40% reduction in off-task behavior,
10% higher standardized test scores by 4th grade,
70% reduction in chronic stress and anxiety.
These improvements have been achieved through 60 minutes of unstructured, outdoor play and a daily character lesson, which should be an essential part of every child's school day.

Numerous studies support the idea that children perform better academically when they have more recess. Research, such as "The Power of Play," shows that kids engaged in play develop better memory, language skills, and behavior regulation, all of which enhance academic performance. Longer recess periods are linked to higher test scores and healthier, happier children. Additionally, recess has been shown to drastically improve children's mental health, reducing stress and anxiety while boosting their overall well-being.

We’re asking young students to focus for hours with minimal unstructured breaks. Even adults need rest to remain productive—labor laws mandates a 30-minute break for every 6 hours worked. Yet, our children get just 15 minutes of recess in a school day that lasts 7 hours, and some children attend schools with even longer hours. Or perhaps the 2017 study that revealed a troubling statistic: maximum security prisoners receive 2 hours of outdoor activity daily, while half of children worldwide get less than 30 minutes. This comparison starkly highlights the inadequacy of the current outdoor time children receive.

The physical benefits of recess are clear, especially with childhood obesity on the rise. Children need more opportunities for daily physical activity. Several credible organizations recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day for kids, including Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE), Center for Disease Control (CDC), and National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Studies confirmed that 60 minutes of unstructured play significantly contributes to their physical and emotional well-being.

We are seeing a concerning trend across the United States, including North Carolina, where recess time is being reduced or eliminated altogether. This alarming shift takes away critical opportunities for children to learn, play, move, and decompress during the school day.

Recess needs to be protected with law to ensure it is no longer hollowed out in the push for more and more instructional time.

We are calling on parents, educators, community leaders, and concerned citizens to join our cause in advocating for more recess and to help us ensure that our students' health and well-being are made a priority in North Carolina schools.