Elementary school students should have a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate and vigorous activity every day while middle and high school students should have 30 minutes.
To achieve that level of activity, NASPE recommends that schools across the country make physical education classes the cornerstone of a comprehensive physical activity program in school that also includes recess, after-school clubs and intramurals as well as competitive athletics.
Physical education is a planned instructional program with specific objectives. An essential part of the total curriculum, it is the role of quality physical education programs to increase the physical competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility and enjoyment of physical activity for all students so that they can be physically active for a lifetime.
For the elementary school students, recess provides an opportunity for needed physical activity. Unstructured time also contributes to creativity, cooperation, and learning about social interaction. Children learn how to cooperate, compete constructively, assume leader/follower roles and resolve conflicts by interacting in play. Play is an essential element of children’s social development.