AAP issues first updated recess guidance in more than a decade as the national recess debate intensifies
Pediatricians say recess is essential for physical health, not just learning. Only 10 states require a daily minimum, and the picture is moving in both directions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued its first updated recess guidance in more than a decade, emphasizing that recess is essential not only for children’s academic performance, mental health, and social development, but also for physical health. The guidance comes amid reduced recess time nationwide, with experts recommending that schools protect daily recess and avoid withholding it for academic or disciplinary reasons.
Despite overwhelming evidence linking physical activity to improved child health and academic performance, only 10 states mandate a minimum daily amount of recess time for elementary school students. A recent 2025 study found that while roughly 13 states now require recess in some form, several do not specify a minimum duration, allowing schools to technically comply while offering only minimal recess time. As the study noted: “Despite potential benefits of state recess policies on student outcomes, only 10 states required a minimum amount of recess for elementary schools in the 2024–2025 school year.”
At the same time, momentum for stronger recess policies continues to grow in some states. In Oklahoma, Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed legislation requiring 40 minutes of daily recess for elementary school students, making Oklahoma one of the states with the strongest recess requirements in the country.
End Chronic Disease has continued elevating this issue nationally, including authoring recent op-eds on the importance of recess in the New York Post and City & State New York. While we were disappointed to see Kansas Governor Laura Kelly veto legislation that would have expanded recess opportunities for students, and similarly discouraged to see New York lawmakers remove the word “mandate” from recess legislation for which we have advocated, we remain committed to advancing meaningful policies that ensure children have consistent opportunities for physical activity during the school day.
Kelly McKenna discussed the importance of recess policy and children’s physical activity with Rod Arquette and Greg Hughes on KNRS, highlighting the growing national conversation around evidence-based school wellness reforms.
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This update first appeared in the End Chronic Disease newsletter on May 25, 2026. AAP guidance as reported by the Associated Press. State policy study: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2025.
