Given the evidence of the value of recess for children and teachers, what can educators, schools, and districts do to promote this critical aspect of the education of the whole child? Daily decisions about who gets recess and when and where it will happen are often made by teachers; thus, teachers are a crucial link for recess. Policies that support daily recess for all children are also essential, especially when it comes to the practice of withholding some or all of recess for disciplinary reasons. In this article, the authors describe recess and the importance of play, discuss the current state of recess in schools and integrating recess into school culture, and describe promising programs that expand our understanding of why recess and play are crucial.