In DeKalb County, children are being shortchanged on something vital for their health, focus, and growth: recess. At some schools, daily recess has been reduced to just 15 minutes — the bare minimum allowed. Parents are speaking out because they know their kids deserve more.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both recommend at least 20 minutes of daily recess. Research shows that unstructured break time is not wasted time — it’s when kids recharge, develop social skills, and return to class more ready to learn. Fifteen minutes is not enough.

At a recent DeKalb County School Board meeting in Stone Mountain, parents like Dee Dee Westbrook told the truth plainly: kids need a real “brain break.” Short recess periods undermine children’s ability to focus, worsen behavior issues, and deny them the healthy movement their bodies need. Many parents are asking for a simple, common-sense solution: require at least 30 minutes of recess every school day.

Administrators say they’re squeezed by literacy requirements, but this should not be an either-or choice. Academic success is not achieved by cutting play. In fact, the evidence is clear that students learn better when they’ve had time to move, breathe, and reset. Recess is not a luxury. It is essential to healthy childhood development and a fair education.

We call on the DeKalb County School Board and Superintendent Devon Q. Horton to immediately update district policy to guarantee at least 30 minutes of daily recess for every elementary school student. The new review committee must listen to families and act swiftly to adopt changes before another school year passes with children deprived of what they need.

DeKalb’s kids deserve classrooms that respect their brains and bodies. Let’s put student well-being first and guarantee enough recess for every child.

Add your name if you agree that DeKalb County students deserve a full 30 minutes of recess every day.