There is a growing trend in many schools across the nation toward reducing or eliminating recess or free time from the school day in order to fit in more academic study. In addition, recess is often withheld from students as a form a punishment.

A new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published in the January 2013 issue of Pediatrics highlights the crucial role of recess for young children and adolescents.

Read: The Crucial Role of Recess in School

Additional Reading:

• Alternatives to Using Loss of Recess as Punishment

• About.com Readers Share Their Thoughts on Loss of Recess Time

_{Photo © Nancy Cohen}

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