U.S. SCHOOLS — The American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidance on recess for U.S. schoolchildren on Monday, its first update on the subject in 13 years. The policy statement, published in the journal Pediatrics, recommends that daily recess be included for students of all ages and states that it supports children's physical health and academic performance.

The updated guidance followed years of reduced recess durations and declines in children's health. Since the mid-2000s, up to 40% of U.S. school districts have reduced or eliminated recess, according to data from Springboard to Active Schools in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The duration of recess in U.S. schools ranges from less than 10 minutes to more than an hour per day, with older students generally receiving less time than younger students.

The guidance cites research indicating that recess contributes to academic performance and to mental, physical, social and emotional development. Children need pauses between concentrated learning so the brain can hold and store information, according to the research cited. Researchers also said recess allows students to navigate relationships and build confidence, benefits they consider important for students of all ages.

Regular physical activity during recess helps prevent obesity, a condition that affects about one in five U.S. children and teens, the guidance states. It recommends a minimum of 20 minutes of recess per day along with multiple breaks, and says recess should be protected and never withheld for academic or punitive reasons. In Denmark, Japan and the United Kingdom, students have breaks after every 45 to 50 minutes of classroom instruction.

Dr. Robert Murray is a lead author of the policy statement. The American Academy of Pediatrics has previously supported free play for children.

Dr. Lauren Fiechtner, a childhood obesity expert at Mass General Brigham for Children in Boston, said she is glad about the updated recommendations. "Recess is great. We all kind of need recess," Fiechtner said. She said that as children get older they spend more time on screens and that outdoor activity and recess are helpful, adding that she agrees with the recommendation that middle and high school students need recess. Fiechtner recalled that her 8-year-old son learned to play basketball at recess and now loves the game.