"We consider it essentially the child's personal time and don't
feel it should be taken away for academic or punitive reasons,"
said Dr. Robert Murray, who co-authored the new policy statement
for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Recess helps students
develop communication skills, such as cooperation and sharing,
and helps counteract the time they spend sitting in class,
according to the statement. "The cognitive literature indicates
that children are exactly as we are as adults. Whenever they're
performing a complicated or complex task, they need time to
process the information," said Murray, a professor at Ohio State
University in Columbus. "Kids have to have that time scheduled.
They're not given the opportunity to just get up and walk around
for a few minutes," he added. Previous research, according to
the statement's authors, found children pay closer attention and
perform better mentally after recess. Last January, a review of
14 studies found kids who get more exercise from - among other
things - re