What's Best for Kids? Recess Before Lunch
For decades elementary students have traditionally eaten lunch, then raced out for recess to jump rope, kick around the soccer ball, and climb monkey bars. But is this longstanding tradition what's in the best interest for kids?
Growing research shows that schools that flip this routine and instead schedule "recess before lunch" see improvements in playground, cafeteria, and classroom behavior. Studies have also found that students who "play then eat" aren't rushing through their meal and tend to eat more, make better nutritional choices, and waste less food.
If the data coupled with common sense says we should be scheduling recess before lunch, why haven't more schools done so? Change at schools can often be slow, and sometimes hard. But our job as educators is to help figure out and advocate what's best for students in both the classroom and on-campus setting for their health, well-being, and learning. It's important we take a closer look at the overwhelming benefits for this change, the possible hurdles to implement, and next steps for schools to successfully move towards scheduling recess before lunch.
Reason #1 - Healthy Digestion
From a medical standpoint to allow for healthy digestion, it doesn't make sense to have kids eat first, then play. As a runner myself, I certainly wouldn't feel well if I ate a hearty lunch, then went out a few minutes later for a vigorous 3 mile run. Why would we want our students to follow this similar regimen? Proponents of recess before lunch argue that eating first and then exercising can result in numerous stomachaches and headaches, especially on warmer days.
Reason #2 - More Nutrition, Less Waste
Students bubbling with excitement about the opportunity to play often rush through and neglect portions of their lunch, thus creating more cafeteria waste, sometimes leaving them hungry later in the day. With recess before lunch, studies show there is a higher consumption of milk, fruit, vegetables, and water. To realize the full benefits of recess before lunch, students accustomed to eating quickly will have to learn to slow down, and might need encouragement to chew their food, and use all the available time to finish their lunches. A study in the August 2004 Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that food waste dropped by 13 percent when lunch came after play. Janet Sinkweicz, principal of Sharon Elementary School in New Jersey, said after her school made the change to recess before lunch, "Students feel like they have more time to eat and they don't have to rush."
Reason #3 - Calmer Cafeteria
A complaint from lunchtime staff is that student's behavior in the cafeteria can often be raucous and rambunctious, as they gobble down their lunch quickly with sights set on playground activities with friends. But when they play before eating, students have gotten the wiggles out and had a chance to socialize before coming in for lunch. Pilot programs have shown that student behavior is calmer and more relaxed in the lunchroom. It's like a "cooling off" period where they can slow down and focus on eating without the distraction of recess before returning to class. In a Montana study at Central Middle School, lunchroom discipline problems dropped from 183 per year prior to the lunch program changes, to only 36 in the first eight months of the '02-'03 school year with recess before lunch in place. A calmer lunchroom environment with fewer behavior problems is certainly appreciated by lunch staff as well.
Reason #4 - Ready for Academics
From my own experience, I know it can often prove challenging for students who have just come off the playground to quickly settle into the classroom, while issues from the yard can often spill over into classroom time. Implementing recess before lunch would allow for this cooling off period to happen in the lunchroom, so another benefit is students come to class calmer, and better ready to begin learning. Katie Bark, a dietician who studied recess before lunch programs in Colorado explains, "If they had a dispute on the playground, students tend to forget about it by the time they return to class." In the same '02-'03 Montana recess before lunch project, after-lunch referrals for behavior problems to the principal's office decreased dramatically; from 96 referrals the prior year to just 22 referrals in the first eight months of the pilot year. Teachers also reported increased attentiveness in their classes after lunch, gaining about 10 minutes of instructional time.
Implementing Recess before Lunch
The number of schools implementing this change has grown steadily over the past decade. What are some of the barriers that might be faced in changing a long standing educational tradition at your school? Administrators in Montana voiced the following concerns: "First, it's important to get people to buy into change like this. They'll have to be convinced it's better for students." Logistics is often another concern that needs to be considered and addressed. What are some important steps to implementing a recess before lunch program at your school?
Educate yourself and colleagues- It's important to first educate ourselves and fellow teachers on Recess before Lunch programs. Plan to include recess before lunch as a staff meeting discussion item and pass out materials on the topic. It's important a majority of staff buys in and is willing to support it. It's also important that the logistics are agreed upon. For example, will each class have students bring a large box filled with lunches into the cafeteria prior to recess so lunches stay in the dry, cool cafeteria instead of outside? Or will students individually bring their lunches in after they play?
Educate Parents - It is necessary to educate parents on the change, and the subsequent reasons for implementing it. Options could include sending home an article on Recess before Lunch in the school newsletter or posting it to the school/class websites. Another way to enhance parent communication could be to send home a parent letter devoted to the topic asking for feedback. Encouraging them to have their child eat a decent breakfast at home or at school, as well as sending them with a healthy morning recess snack should be stressed, especially for students who have the later lunchtime.
Educate Students - Students will need to have the new procedures explained, and chances to practice the new routine. It would be helpful that they understand why this change is beneficial for their health as well. Introducing procedures such as disposable hand wipes or hand sanitizers as they enter lunch from the playground will be important habits to promote to ensure clean hands.
Give it time to work- As educators, we often look for "best practice" methods. Recess before Lunch studies have shown the benefits of implementing outweigh the cost of the smaller logistical and procedural changes that must occur. Next year, I am excited that my site, Mariemont, will be shifting our schedule to implement this program. Although change takes time and bumps in the road are inevitable, a simple switch such as this can positively impact student health and behavior. Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneua, who supports recess before lunch programs says, "It's a win-win situation all around for schools, for teachers, for students, and for parents."