Don't Play With Recess: Why Playtime Is Crucial For Kids Returning To School

While most public elementary schools are being slated for the return of students for in-person learning, and parents ponder the pros and cons of sending them back, there will be an understandable focus on safety and protocols. Parents need them for peace of mind, and school officials need them for compliance. 

What children will need once they do return is recess. Doesn't matter how short or how long. Students (especially elementary school children) need a reunion. They need to be awakened from the doldrums of dormant social lives and disrupted social emotional learning caused by the pandemic. They need a revival from being forced to become Zoom Zoombies as a result of distance learning. 

No child has been unharmed or unaffected. The psychological impact of children being isolated during the pandemic is now well-documented. The loneliness (which is associated with depression and anxiety) that children experienced can have long-term effects.

Recess, which many schools are cautiously eliminating or reducing, can be the antidote to what ails the hearts and souls of those returning. Play is so vital to their well-being. They should have recess, and they can have it structured, guided, or supervised. The benefits outweigh the risks. Parents should let school officials know that we shouldn't ignore or dismiss the therapeutic value of recess, its health rewards, or inherent growth opportunities. If school is back in (whether full or part-time), recess should be back in also.