New WA state law mandates K-5 recess for physical, mental health benefits

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Any school kid will tell you, recess is fun. But it's more than just a chance to get out of class and run around. It's also important for a child's mental health.

A new state law passed in the 2023 legislative session takes effect in the fall, mandating at least 30 minutes of recess time every day, for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Grand Ridge Elementary School in Issaquah already meets that requirement, providing two, 20-minute recess breaks for students, for a total of 40 minutes every day.

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Shariah Lennon is one of Grand Ridge's paraprofessionals, overseeing recess.

"Whether it’s raining or windy or snowing, they don’t care," Lennon said. "They’re just so excited to come outside, to see their friends to play a sport to play on the playground. They’re just excited to be out here, and then they’re able to go back in and refocus."

Doctors and state lawmakers also see the importance. In addition to at least 30 minutes of high-quality recess in elementary schools, the law encourages movement breaks for middle and high schoolers.

It suggests putting recess before lunch instead of after, to make sure children have time to play without cutting into lunch time. And it advises against withholding recess as punishment.

"Kids are not really meant to be still all day. So they need that for their brains, to come out, to move, to have fun, it’s so needed," Lennon said.

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Seattle Children's Hospital pediatrician Dr. Pooja Tandon said doctors are seeing a youth mental health epidemic. The pandemic triggered learning loss at school, but kids also missed the benefits of recess.

"It’s one of the few times during the school day – and maybe the whole day, given how structured children’s lives are – where they get to choose what they’re doing," Tandon said. "And they get to problem solve with their peers and be creative."

That pretending, creativity, and problem-solving are key skills, making recess a time for children to build healthier bodies and minds.

And Tandon said it helps children focus in class. "There’s research to show that there are actually benefits to their behavior when they come back into the classroom. So there’s the benefits they’re getting when they’re out there playing with their friends and interacting in ways you might not get to in class. But then teachers have reported that when they get back they’re focused better and in better position to learn."