The Great Recess Debate By Health Day Ask any child what his
favorite part of the school day is and you'll probably hear the
word recess! The American Academy of Pediatrics is jumping into
the debate over whether recess is a necessary break or wasted
time away from the books. The group's opinion: recess plays a
crucial role in a child's development and should remain a
regularly scheduled period. In a new policy statement, this
powerful group of pediatricians wants to make sure the trend
towards dropping recess to make room for more academics doesn't
continue. In fact, they'd like to see both recess and physical
ed classes stay...and not allow gym class to replace recess. The
Academy says recess offers many important benefits for kids,
especially when the play is unrestricted. Beyond a mental health
"break" during the day, growing evidence also links recess to
better physical health, improved social skills and even higher
cognitive development. One final note: The AAP believes recess
should never be withheld a