Middle schoolers fall into a liminal space where they aren't little kids anymore but also aren't rapidly approaching adulthood as older teens are. They have different needs, energy, and attention spans than their older and younger counterparts, needing less playtime than little kids but more playtime than high schoolers. So there's a longstanding debate about whether middle schoolers should have recess like they did in elementary school or whether they should, instead, be treated more like high schoolers.
Should Middle Schoolers Have Recess? What Experts Say
The CDC says recess is essential for getting kids physical activity and should be available for all grade levels from kindergarten through the 12th grade. And, according to the non-profit educational news source, The Hechinger Report, play is just as essential of a part of a middle schooler's development as it is with younger kids. So, according to many experts, middle schoolers definitely should have recess.
According to the CDC, recess:
- Helps students stay on task and focus better in the classroom
- Helps them stay active & get exercise
- Enhances social development
- Reduces behavioral issues in the classroom
Recess Regulations for Middle School
Middle school didn't become a type of school in the United States until the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, there was a push to recognize the differences in development between older children and teenagers. As kids aged, their education skewed more toward preparing for adulthood, which meant less recess and more work.
Today, in a push towards academic rigor, a majority of middle schools don't have recess. In many states, the decision to have recess remains up to the school's principal, district, or administration, but you often see a decrease in recess as children get older. To illustrate this decline in daily free time, the Benefits of Recess report points out that 90% of schools offer daily recess to fifth graders, but only 35% offer it to sixth graders.
But, the lack of or severe limitations on middle school recess is showing signs of changing.
- California recently passed SB291. As of 2024, California requires recess for all students through the 8th grade.
- As of 2024, Washington State SB5257 encourages physical activity breaks for middle and high school students.
- 12 other states mandate recess in elementary school but not middle school.
- 13 other states recommend recess in elementary school but make no mention of middle school.
Related: 21 Totally Practical Tips for Middle School Survival
Why Opponents Say Middle School Recess Isn't Necessary
There are more than a few factors that have led some educators to feel middle schoolers don't need recess like they did in elementary grades.
Educational Standards
When the trend to eliminate recess first developed, it was in response to international competition. In 1983, Charles Doyle published a report called, A Nation at Risk. In it, he highlighted the many ways in which students from the United States fall short compared to their international counterparts. In other countries, the concept of having free time during a school day is foreign. Schools in other parts of the world are in session more days per year, for more hours per day, with more rigid schedules.
The logical conclusion was that American students didn't spend enough time in school focused on learning. The report called for standardized testing and put pressure on students and teachers to perform, meaning more time needed to be spent learning and preparing for the tests. Many proponents of world academic competition continue to adhere to this argument, suggesting American schools have a duty to educate students according to high standards that will prepare them to compete professionally in the global market.
School Budgets
School budgets are tight, but recess requires monitoring and equipment. A lot of schools lack the equipment or budget (and employees) for programs like recess. Schools that struggle to pay for books and classroom materials or are faced with deteriorating buildings could fare better without the push to provide recess when they struggle to provide an effective education. Playgrounds, fields, gymnasiums, games, sports equipment, and recess monitors all cost money that many schools just don't have. When funding is available, some argue it should be focused on learning environments and materials, not playthings.
The Pro-Recess Movement
The idea of saving recess got major publicity in 2006 when Cartoon Network launched a campaign in conjunction with the National Parent and Teacher's Association called Rescuing Recess. The main goal was to promote written policy at the local and state levels that protects recess for students through sixth grade. The Benefits of Recess report explains how this movement toward recess for middle schoolers caught steam in 2011 when Chicago Public Schools became the first large urban district to announce making recess a daily requirement for middle school.
Physical Benefits of Recess
About 40% of kids are obese or overweight in the United States, and inactivity plays a role in this. In addition, the Shape of the Nation Report shares comprehensive research showing physical activity in adolescents:
- Promotes growth and development
- Helps prevent chronic illness in adults
- Improves bone health and muscular fitness
Emotional and Behavioral Benefits of Middle School Recess
Susan Meyer, principal of Meads Mill Middle School, suggests, "Middle school kids need to have unwinding and reflecting time just as adults do." She uses parent volunteers and time during the lunch period for recess, which helps parents connect to their kids and the school while kids get a break and the chance to find support from their friends.
Fostering the concept of self-care by taking mental breaks and encouraging social time can benefit tweens' emotional health and behavior during school, as the CDC noted above.
Cognitive Benefits of Recess in Middle School
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day for all kids, including adolescents. These expert doctors say, "Cognitive processing and academic performance depend on regular breaks from concentrated classroom work." The most effective breaks are frequent and long enough to allow for mental decompression.
Middle Schoolers Need Recess
Many experts — including educational and health experts — tout the importance of recess for middle school kids. Middle school can be tough enough without also taking away recess, so tweens don't have time to socialize or play freely with friends. And with a few states starting to take notice, maybe soon, others will, too, and middle schoolers will have the opportunity to blow off some steam at recess.
