Active Play and Say Yes to Recess

What if one of the most important parts of childhood was quietly disappearing from the school day?In Episode 9 of Active Play, Every Day, Dr. Emily Greenwald sits down with Rachel Bush and Kathryn Truman, founders of Say Yes to Recess, to explore why recess is far more than just a break between classes.Together, they unpack the science behind recess, the growing movement to protect it, and how one parent’s discovery about her daughter’s school schedule sparked a statewide movement that helped increase Tennessee’s daily recess requirements from 15 minutes to 40 minutes.This conversation explores why unstructured play is essential for children’s physical health, emotional regulation, social development, creativity, and learning. The group also discusses why recess, PE, and classroom movement breaks are not interchangeable — and why many children still receive shockingly little free play during the school day.You’ll also hear:Why recess supports brain development and academic performanceHow unstructured play helps children build resilience and social skillsWhy middle schoolers and teens still need movement breaksWhat makes an effective recess policyPractical ways parents and educators can advocate for change in their communitiesThis episode is for parents, educators, pediatricians, and anyone who believes childhood should include movement, joy, and play.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps the show reach more families.This podcast is sponsored by Nex Playground, an active play gaming system that helps kids move indoors through full-body games that support learning, coordination, and joy.This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.