A Small But Significant Change at Ocean Shore: Recess Before Lunch

Laura Shain, an elementary school teacher since 1993 and current principal at Pacifica's Ocean Shore School, noticed that the lunch and recess system at her school was not working.

Ocean Shore had outgrown its cozy roots, growing from about 100 kids in the 1970s to the current enrollment of 400 students. When recess was after lunch, which is tradition at most schools, Shain noticed that lunch became frenetic and rushed because kids wanted to get outside and play. The situation had become stressful for all concerned; something had to change.

The idea to put recess before lunch was first brought to Shain by Allison West, a lawyer and parent of a third grader at Ocean Shore.

"It just makes sense," said West. "Let kids get all their wiggles out, run around, scream, jump, play, and then have them focus on eating."

The recess before lunch debate, which is sweeping the nation, can be surprisingly complex, however.

It make sense to put recess before lunch because each child eats differently. Shain saw one girl peeling each grape before she ate it, while other students nibbled sandwiches in the shape of a flower.  Some children just threw out their food to get to recess quicker. Kids eat at different speeds and requiring all to finish lunch before playtime is tough to manage.

Research also shows that kids who have recess before lunch eat more of their lunch and return to class more settled, focused and ready to learn. States as diverse as Montana, Arizona, New Jersey and Washington have embraced the change. A four school pilot study in Montana in 2002 and another Arizona study showed that kids who played before lunch waste less food, drank more milk and water and the calmness created in the classrooms afforded 10 extra minutes of teaching time.

""It sounds like a great idea," said Laurel Schultz, a pediatrician in San Francisco. "The American Academy of Pediatrics supports increased free play for developmental and physical health and as long as parents are informed and accommodations are made, on an individual basis, for kids who may have special medial needs, recess before lunch sounds like a sound idea."

But there are obstacles in the way of making what may seem to be a simple change to the school day. Getting the plan implemented at Pacifica's Ocean Shore school was no easy feat. 

West had done research, and came armed with the studies and statistics to support the switch. Shain was receptive, and together they worked through a long list of issues which included altering the troop-like maneuvers of nearly 400 students through the lunch line in a timely fashion, taking diabetic kids needs into consideration because they need to pay extra attention to the timing of their meals. Another logistical concern was what to do with lunch boxes during recess so that they stay readily accessible for lunch. Most of all, however, Shain was worried about adequate supervision on the playground.

Ocean Shore has a legacy of duty-free lunches for teachers, which fosters collegiality, and is now a part of their union contract and therefore non-negotiable. Throwing off the traditional scheduling at Ocean Shore meant teachers might have to forsake some lunch time to watch students on the playground, and this wouldn't fly.

Parents solved this problem for Shain. They stepped in to fill the supervision void by volunteering to supervise kids on the playground. In fact, parents overwhelmingly bought in to recess before lunch quickly. They had beef with the old system because lunch before recess promoted rushing through lunch and often lunch boxes returned home half full. Many parents felt they would support the change if it meant their kids would finish their lunch and not be ravenous at pickup time, and it seemed to do so.

Shain and West's efforts paid, off however, and at the beginning of this school year the change was implemented. For K-5, recess is now before lunch, grades 6-8 eat first for logistical reasons. 

"I think the recess before lunch idea is great," said Jennifer Mitchell, a veteran Ocean Shore kindergarten teacher and parent. "I have seen so many kids who race through their lunch or simply throw it away so they can get to recess.  The classes are calmer when the teachers pick them up as well."

They are still working out the kinks at Ocean Shore but the new system seems to be in high gear and changing habits. Principal Shain reported an uptick in salad bar usage since the beginning of the year.

All kids are not convinced yet, however.  A random sampling of 3rd grade girls and boys found mixed results.

One new student to Ocean Shore said, "It's fun doing recess first," but his buddy shrugged and said "I'm ok with it." The girls were a bit more contemplative. One girl suggested she would prefer to choose. Another girl said that she has "no energy to play and is starving by the time lunch rolls around." 

Lunch is currently less than an half hour later than it used to be, however, and Shain and West hope this new plan will encourage healthier eating habits among students, including a nutritious breakfast and snack. Teachers and parents agree that deferring hunger for a half hour is not necessarily a bad thing for kids these days.

"Change is hard and there is always resistance," said Principal Shain.

Many other schools in Pacifica are considering scheduling recess before lunch and West and Shain have been approached by the Berkeley Unified School District about the new conditions at Ocean Shore.