Leveling the Playing Field: Opportunities for School Recess to Promote Wellness and Reduce Disparities in Elementary School Children

Background: School recess provides several benefits to elementary school students, including physical, emotional, and social health benefits. Despite these benefits, there is a growing shift toward reducing or reallocating recess time in school. Furthermore, not all students have equitable access to recess and its benefits due to disparities in recess policies and implementation by socioeconomic status of the communities served by the school and academic or behavioral conduct of individual students. Conclusions: Strong state-level legislation requiring recess for all elementary schools and for all elementary school children is necessary to ensure equitable access to recess and its benefits.