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By Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer

The Recess Doctor

Making the Case for Protecting Recess in Today’s Schools

Introduction

I was reading an article today on an online forum that popped up in a google alert and caught my attention. It concerned a parent complaint about a teacher that “keeps cancelling recess.” I thought this topic had pretty much run-its-course,  after all, schools and parents have been talking about this for over 20 years. However, I thought I’d take the opportunity to point out why taking away recess is not only a bad idea but also may be against State and/or local School Board Regulations.

Privilege or Right?

For generations, recess was treated as a privilege—something students earn through good behavior or academic productivity. When instructional time is tight or discipline issues arise, recess is often the first thing to go.

Yet this trend has been questioned for over 20 years in educational circles. Largely because a growing body of research in child development, along with emerging state legislation across the United States, suggests that this traditional approach may no longer be defensible. Increasingly, medical experts, public health researchers, and policymakers argue that recess is not a reward for compliant students.

Recess is a necessary part of learning.

For principals and educators responsible for designing healthy school environments, the question is no longer simply whether recess fits conveniently into the schedule. The question is whether schools should continue treating recess as optional when research, policy, and law increasingly recognize it as an essential component of the school day.¹

Recess and the Science of Learning

Recess occupies a unique role in the educational environment. Unlike physical education classes, which are structured and teacher-directed, recess allows students to engage in unstructured play and movement. Children choose how they move, whom they interact with, and how they solve social problems that arise.

This type of activity is not merely recreational. Developmental researchers consider unstructured play critical to children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Course Description

The Playground Games and Strategies to Improve Recess is designed to introduce administrators, teachers, substitute teachers, physical educators, parents, after-school personnel, and playground supervisors to the responsibilities and strategies associated with organizing a successful recess. This course outlines how to make recess safe, fun, and orderly without “structuring recess”.

This is an online on-demand course. Once you enroll in the course and pay for the course, you will be directed to the log on and spot to begin the course. Students can progress through the readings and final quiz at their own pace during the 2 week enrollment period.

Course Content

The course is divided into 5 areas:

1. An overview of elementary school recess, including why recess is so important and the research supporting recess.

2. Organizing for recess success, including a sample comprehensive plan for recess, tips for a kid-friendly playground, playground rules for safe play, and organizing recess equipment.

3. How to play some of the most popular recess games and an overview of the importance of age-appropriate games.

4. Managing behavior at recess, including playground supervision, conflict strategies, procedures for an organized recess, and how to discipline children at recess.

5. Recess Initiatives including kids’ right to recess, alternatives to withholding recess, and recess before lunch.

$249 off April 15 - May 15, 2026

ONLINE COURSE OPTIONS

Playground Supervisor Training

Bullying Prevention Training

Grant Writing Course

Recess Before Lunch Training

Pedometer Walking Program Training

**NEW Course Bundle**

$2,250

How to Have A Peaceful Playground

Low Cost, High Activity Playground

Playground and Strategies for Improving Recess

What Research Shows:

Did you know that by adding games and developing both the blacktop and the grass you're spreading kids out around the play space and this will reduce injuries on the playground?

Peaceful Playgrounds is a research based program. The research shows that most school playgrounds have a structure which costs upwards of $150,000 or more. A few plain white games such as, hopscotch or 4 square, a basketball court; which are not developmentally appropriate for all children that play on the playground, and nothing added to the grass.

When you develop all areas students play on the grass 50% of the time, the blacktop 39% of the time and the play structures 11% of the time.

The Peaceful Playgrounds Recess Program addresses the 2 areas where children play 89% of the time. We are the MOST AFFORDABLE option out there for addressing the playground. The program helps you organize recess for unstructured play for under $7,000.

Don't let mandatory recess legislation stress you out, we have the solution!

The Peaceful Playgrounds Program is a nationally recognized and award-winning physical activity program touching nearly 2 million children annually for over 25+ years!

Contact us. We can assist you with brochures, estimate and everything you need to get started today.

(951) 245-6970 or officestaff@peacefulplaygrounds.com

The Peaceful Playgrounds Program is a nationally recognized and award-winning physical activity program touching nearly 4 million children annually for over 28 years!

Recess is a right, not a reward. Withholding play harms children’s ability to focus, self-regulate, and engage in class. Positive behavior systems work better than taking recess away.

Got questions about recess? We’ve got answers.

Introducing our new *Ask the Expert* series, your go-to resource for everything from playground safety and supervision to physical activity, conflict resolution, and rainy-day recess solutions.

Email us your questions We’ll be answering them each newsletter.

April 2026 Winner

Cynthia Isaksen - Jardine Academy, NJ

Enter your school today in the "Learn to Play" US Map Playground Map Stencil Giveaway. The beautiful geographically and proportionately accurate educational map stencil is 20 feet by 36 feet and extends the classroom curriculum to recess and outdoor play. History and geography come alive with the games and activities included in the stencil set.

You might be the next winner. Good Luck!

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