In this position statement, the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education asserts that recess is an essential component of education and that preschool and elementary school children must have the opportunity to participate in regular periods of active, free play with peers. The statement summarizes research on the benefits of recess and play on social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development; delineates current concerns about the elimination of recess by many schools; and offers recommendations about recess and the young child. Recommendations include the following: (1) support policies that require recess time to be part of the preschool and elementary school curriculum; and (2) support research and professional development that facilitate every educator's skills in observation and assessment of the developmental growth of children through the play process. Appended to the statement are a position paper from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education on recess in elementary schools, and a statement on the value of school recess and outdoor play from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. (Contains 40 references.) (EV)