Comments on: Playtime is Over?

By: Cey

Cey — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:51:16 +0000

Unfortunately whoever messages the program to you gave you the wrong impression. Playworks is not about “structuring” recess to the point that students are told what to do and where to do it. These “recess coaches” go into the schools and show the children how to play games so that 1. There is less time spent arguing over which rules are “correct” 2. All of the children feel included so that there are less of them growing up with “last kid picked” syndrome 3. The students have a plethora of CHOICES when they come out to the playground. Furthermore what’s not mentioned in this article are the other aspects of the program like teaching children conflict resolution and leadership development.

By: Roby

Roby — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:24:24 +0000

So true. Honetsy and everything recognized.

By: mandolin banjo

mandolin banjo — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:31:54 +0000

Nice Post…

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By: Neva

Neva — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:50:57 +0000

The kids need a break – without structured play. If 2 kids want to shoot hoops fine – if 12 kids want to play kickball fine – if 2 kids want to swing etc. etc. This is also time where kids can talk to each other without feeling like they have to live up to a teachers expectation. Kids also need these recess breaks before the last 10 minutes of school being let out like I have seen at a local school. What’s the point when they get to go home in 10 minutes – they need that break halfway between lunch and dismissal time.

By: Donna E. Starr

Donna E. Starr — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:49:55 +0000

Not so fast!!! Our grandson has asperger’s and has social interaction issues even though he is a very bright student. It shows up more so on the playground when he wants to interact with other kids. A playground helper is needed for this. And folks there is much more of these types of problems out their now than one realizes. It’s not like it used to be when we were kids.

By: Justine

Justine — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:01:47 +0000

A lot of the kid games were learned at camp in the summertime. Then at home, the neighborhood children would hang on the street and organize games to play. Today, children are not encouraged to go out and hang on the streets…..because of the dangers, whatever they may be. And gym class in the elementary schools should be teaching the kids organized games to play as well as camps. If they change recess to a structured activity, then they need to change the title of it because it would NOT be recess.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:56:30 +0000

My knee jerk response is…WHAT? Kids need free time! If my kids’ school hired a recess coach, I’d want more information. For starters, budget cuts are forcing elimination of teachers, so I doubt they’d have money for recess coaches. I have made connections with the school’s staff that would lead me to expect good reasons and a well thought out plan for such a position. Staff at my kids’ school is well qualified, experienced, devoted and creative. If recess coaches (or some other goofy sounding fad) are coming to schools in your community, get information. Find out the need, the cost, the plan. Be part of the solution. Good educators create excellent results within their budget. Poor educators waste embarrassing amounts of tax dollars.

By: JennH

JennH — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:56:30 +0000

Have you ever gone to a school and stood out on the playground and watched the kids? How many of them are standing still, staring at their phone or their ipod? How many others are simply sitting in small groups? The statistics about childhood obesity are frightening and the sad fact is that most kids do not go outside or exercise at all when they are at home. I think the schools are just trying desperately to fix a bad situation because most parents aren’t willing to do anything about the problem.

By: Nanci

Nanci — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:49:32 +0000

This is so ridiculous. If kids don’t know how to “play” and get along with others it is directly a result of over-protective parenting. Kids who are kept inside on electronics and junk food, and kids who are allowed to venture out only as far as the boundries their own yards, and only if they are fenced, can’t possibly know how to get along with others and make up their own games. This is so sad. Parents are so focused on keeping their kids safe and making everything fair that kids don’t learn the proper social skills, how to be creative, or how to deal with the real world. Parents need to back off and let kids solve their own problems. If the other kids are being mean to little Johnny maybe little Johnny needs to learn the right social skills to fit in, having mommy come over and tell them all to play fair and get along and let everyone have a turn is ridiculous. The world is not fair and teaching kids that it is, or should be, is doing them a great disservice in the long run. My kids are 8 and 6 and run all around the neighborhood on foot and bikes. They play with neighborhood kids and spend hours each day outside being silly, creative and dirty. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Send your kids outside, stop hovering to make sure they’re safe, and everyone is being fair to them all the time and they will grow up a lot better for it!

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:32:54 +0000

Ideally, at first coaches might be necessary to help kids learn to play, but then the coaches need to step back into more of a monitor role so the kids learn how to handle their differences, pick teams, etc., etc. Being kids, they will always need supervision, but recess should be a time free of planning and structure.