As educators, you know that recess is an essential part of the school day for kids and adults alike.

Because here’s the thing: recess isn’t just fun and games.

Recess gives kids the chance to flex their imaginations, develop complex social relationships, and consolidate the lessons they’re learning – not to mention get their wiggles out!

But distance learning deprives children of that playful midday break and pressures teachers into feeling like they have to forge ahead to keep up with the curriculum, despite the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in. 

The problem is that kids aren’t designed to sit still, let alone stare at a computer screen for five hours a day. And for that exact reason, recess is more important now than ever. But how do you get kids to authentically engage one another across digital screens? How can you encourage real world “play” when your interactions are limited to a digital medium?