Recess Before Lunch Improves Child Behavior
By: Jen Mueller,
DailySpark Blogger
2/9/2010 6:00 PM
: 153 comments
: 11,643 Views
When I was young, there was a traditional order to the school day: classes, lunch, recess, then more classes. I couldn't imagine mixing up the day, but now some schools are experimenting to see if it improves children's eating habits, physical activity and behavior. So what are they doing?
Schools across the country have decided to try recess before lunch. According to some schools who have made the switch, "When children play before lunch, there is less food waste and higher consumption of milk, fruit and vegetables. And some teachers say there are fewer behavior problems."
One school in Arizona that implemented the change reported a 40% drop in nurse visits (since the children didn't get sick running around after eating a big meal). They also reported less food waste, since before kids were in such a hurry to play that they wouldn't eat all of their food. Students were also calmer in the classroom when they returned from lunch because they used lunchtime to wind down after play.
Although there have been some logistical challenges to such programs, about one-third of Montana schools and other districts around the country have adopted this program. Still, a study in the Journal of Childhood Nutrition & Management reported that fewer than 5 percent of the nation’s elementary schools were scheduling recess before lunch. So it seems that schools have been slow to change.
This seems like a great idea to me. An easy way to get kids the activity they need, but then help them focus better and get back to learning when playtime is over.
What do you think? Do any schools in your area do this?
Schools across the country have decided to try recess before lunch. According to some schools who have made the switch, "When children play before lunch, there is less food waste and higher consumption of milk, fruit and vegetables. And some teachers say there are fewer behavior problems."
One school in Arizona that implemented the change reported a 40% drop in nurse visits (since the children didn't get sick running around after eating a big meal). They also reported less food waste, since before kids were in such a hurry to play that they wouldn't eat all of their food. Students were also calmer in the classroom when they returned from lunch because they used lunchtime to wind down after play.
Although there have been some logistical challenges to such programs, about one-third of Montana schools and other districts around the country have adopted this program. Still, a study in the Journal of Childhood Nutrition & Management reported that fewer than 5 percent of the nation’s elementary schools were scheduling recess before lunch. So it seems that schools have been slow to change.
This seems like a great idea to me. An easy way to get kids the activity they need, but then help them focus better and get back to learning when playtime is over.
What do you think? Do any schools in your area do this?
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Comments
I would have liked to give it more time. - 2/13/2010 11:24:27 AM
Now I'm in college, and I work out in the morning before my first class, after which I eat lunch. It helps me stay focused, probably because I've already gotten my blood pumping and oxygen going to my brain. I'm thinking about adding another short workout in the afternoon, because I start to zone a little bit around 2 or 3... - 2/11/2010 2:30:48 PM
With a morning healthy snack, the kids wouldn't have to go too long without eating and then they could get all of their energy out before lunch leading to a more productive day! - 2/11/2010 10:41:22 AM
The lunch program has worked to lower fat contents, and increase the number of vegetable and fruit offerings. Each day students have a choice between 3 entrees. My kid eats everything, plus milk daily and ususally gets a double entree! I can monitor what he eats through the point of purchase system.
I'd love to see recess prior to lunch - and I think they are working towards that. The bathrooms are designed with the sinks open to the hallway (easy to stop by on the way to the cafeteria) and there are more and more hand sanitizer stations all over the school. - 2/11/2010 9:46:14 AM
Also, having lived overseas, I would say that American playgrounds are far less challenging than what I've seen in other countries. You aren't likely to see kids climbing on anything much higher than shoulder level (if that). In Europe and Japan, we've seen ziplines, kid friendly climbing walls, bridge walkways that swing and rotate around. I think many of the average playgrounds that we've seen elsewhere would be classified as adventure playgrounds in the US. (The difference probably rests with our lawsuit happy system.)
Is lunch the only recess these days? I remember morning, lunch and afternoon recess (at least until junior high). Ironically it might be the middle school boys would would most benefit from a half hour of vigorous unstructured activity. And they may be the least likely to get it. - 2/10/2010 9:34:56 PM
We played hard, and ate GOOD food! NO JUNK! - 2/10/2010 3:53:50 PM
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