​Protecting and promoting opportunities for
​meaningful and inclusive play at school.

The mission of The Recess Project is to ensure compassionate, caring and inclusive societies by focusing on children's relationships at school. As humans, we have an innate and fundamental drive to connect with others.

Recess is often the only time in the school day that children have an opportunity to connect meaningfully with their peers. Yet research shows unacceptable levels of bullying, exclusion, intolerance, and rejection that undermine opportunities to connect.

The result is loneliness, anxiety, depression, and stress that undermine well-being, school success, and overall healthy development.

The Goals of The Recess Project:
Ensure daily opportunities for meaningful, active play.
Break the normalized patterns of bullying and exclusion and promote positive, inclusive, and compassionate  interactions. 
Ensure recess is part of school-wide improvement efforts.
Ensure Canadians truly understand the relationship between play, friendships, health, and well being.
Oversee legislative changes and effective policy development.
Ensure school playspaces are fully inclusive and accessible. 
The Recess Project is based at the Diversity Institute in the Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto and is proudly partnered with Physical & Health Education Canada