Season 13 • Episode 1011

1011 - Policies for Play: School Recess and Public Health

Feb 16, 2026

15:32

Women's Health Mental Health Fitness & Exercise Public Health Health Policy

Episode Description

About this episode:

Daily recess has been shown to improve mental health and academic outcomes for children while also providing an opportunity for physical activity and social development. But few states have formal policies that protect dedicated recess time. In this episode: Researchers Rachel Deitch and Erin Hager discuss the public health benefits of recess and their toolkit for advancing state recess laws.

Guests:

Rachel Deitch, MS, is a program officer in the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Erin Hager, PhD, is a professor of Population, Family and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she also leads the STRONG Research Program.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content:

Play, Policy, and Potential: A Toolkit to Support Advancing Recess in Schools Through State Laws—Bloomberg American Health Initiative
How many states require recess in schools?—@bloombergamericanhealth via Instagram
Accountability and Funding for State-Level School Physical Education and Recess Laws—American Journal of Preventative Medicine

Transcript information:

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