Recess before lunch

For years recess advocates have proposed that schools schedule recess before, rather than after, lunch. Finally, some schools are paying attention.

In today's New York Times, health journalist Tara Parker-Pope reports on some of those schools and on the benefits they're seeing as a result of the switch. Among other things, the children aren't shoving food down their throats in an effort to get to the playground as quickly as possible! Here, from Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer, are some of the benefits of playing before eating:

• Improved cafeteria behavior.
• Calmer more relaxed students in the cafeteria.
• Students retuning to classroom calmer and ready to learn.
• Drink more milk.
• Students throw away less food.
  
• Students eat more.
• Fewer discipline problems.
• Fewer visits to the school nurse.

Melinda has prepared a slide presentation on this topic. You can find it -- and a lot of other great information -- at her Peaceful Playgrounds website.

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[Jc Boushh]

Recess before lunch
Rae Pica says for years recess advocates have proposed that schools schedule recess before, rather than after, lunch. Finally, some schools are paying attention. In today's New York Times, health journalist Tara Parker-Pope reports on some of those schools and on the benefits...