# Kids Need Recess

> This site was created to help parents advocate for recess for their children.


## Posts

- [Louisiana Elementary School Kids Get Recess](https://kidsneedrecess.com/louisiana-elementary-school-kids-get-recess/): Louisiana elementary students are now guaranteed 15 minutes of daily recess, comprising 4% of their school day, out of the minimum 360 minutes of instruction. Only 11% of elementary schools have recess periods shorter than 15 minutes. Charter schools are exempted from the law, which passed unanimously, with the only opposition coming from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, who were concerned about recess lengthening the school day and requiring more time from teachers.
- [School Start Time Research](https://kidsneedrecess.com/school-start-time/): More Science Backs Later School Start Timer Movement It’s recommended that elementary and middle school students get between nine and eleven hours of sleep each night. However, with schools starting early in the morning, students may have less time to unwind and finish their homework in the evening. Although some education experts have proposed starting classes later to improve students’ alertness and energy levels, many schools nationwide still begin their day at 7 a.m. or earlier. Research has shown that adjusting school start times to later in the morning can have positive effects on kids sleep patterns, especially for teenagers. […]
- [The School Day has changed](https://kidsneedrecess.com/the-school-day-has-changed/): While it is recommended that children receive at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, the stark reality is that many students in the United States receive short recess breaks or no breaks at all due to educational policies that have increased instructional time. Instructional time per year can vary state to state. On average, however, you may be surprised to find out that students in the United States have ranked above average in amount of school instructional time when compared to OECD countries, second only to Costa Rica, more than Canada, Japan, Germany, or South Korea. You will […]
- [School District Policy vs. State Law](https://kidsneedrecess.com/school-district-policy-vs-state-law/): When it comes to education, federal law plays a very small role. States are the entities primarily responsible for the maintenance and operation of public schools. States dictate the establishment, selection, and regulation of curriculum, teaching methods, and instructional materials in their schools. When it comes to recess, study shows that state law has a more significant influence on whether children have enough recess than school district policy. When it comes to recess, studies have shown that state laws have greater effect on whether kids get recess, compared to district policy, where the effects are unclear. Here are a couple […]
- [What A Bell Schedule Tell You About Your Student's Day?](https://kidsneedrecess.com/school-bell-schedule/): How to look at your school schedule: The main components of a school day has start time instructional time, recess, lunch, and end of day. Start Time Many school districts and even whole states have started to change the school start times for middle and high school students. Studies show that elementary school children are less affected by an earlier start time, but teenagers are a different story. There is enough science that California has passed a law that has middle schools start no earlier than 8am, and high schools no earlier than 8:30am. The CDC and American Academy of […]
- [Landmark School Recess Bill Signed into Law in Washington State](https://kidsneedrecess.com/recess-law-signed-washington-state/): Washington state students in grades K-5 will be guaranteed at least 30 minutes of recess beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, thanks to a new law signed today by the Governor. Senate Bill 5257 and its companion House bill were championed by Sen. T’Wina Nobles (D-Fircrest) and Rep. Sam Low (R-Lake Stevens). Press Release: https://kcplayequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Press-Release-New-Recess-Law-5.4.23-2-PM.pdf

## Pages

- [Blog Posts](https://kidsneedrecess.com/blog/)
- [Advocate](https://kidsneedrecess.com/advocate/): Here are some sample letter templates for you to use: Email a Representative When emailing a representative, you can also reference model legislation documents. Keep Recess in Schools, from Springboard to Active Schools Guide for Recess Policy, from SHAPE America Increasing Physical Activity Through Recess, ALR Say Yes to Recess is pushing their movement beyond their legislative win in Tennessee to other states like Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.
- [Research & Media](https://kidsneedrecess.com/research/): Here is a collection of recess-related research and news media articles. If you would like to submit one to this collection please use this form.
- [State Laws](https://kidsneedrecess.com/states/): States Profiles Here are some information on the states physical activity and recess law requirements. If you see anything you know that is wrong, please let us know.
- [Resources](https://kidsneedrecess.com/resources/): Organizations That Support Recess American Academy of Pediatrics Recess is a necessary break in the day for optimizing a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. In essence, recess should be considered a child’s personal time, and it should not be withheld for academic or punitive reasons. Read the 2013 Policy Statement American Heart Association Support daily recess for all students at all grade levels that cannot be denied due to punishment. Read the Policy Statement SHAPE America “Recess helps students to achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity that can improve strength and endurance; enhance academic achievement; and […]
- [Kids Need Recess](https://kidsneedrecess.com/): Why Recess Matters Research shows that physical activity and playtime during the school day can improve academic performance, social skills, and overall well-being. Ideally, kids should be getting at least 60 min of moderately rigorous physical activity per day, but they are not getting that from their school day. Over the last twenty years, since 2001, average weekly recess time in U.S. schools has declined by 60 minutes.  


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