I think the New Zealand researchers are onto something. I recently read an article that talked about taking away the rules on the playground. Something quite dramatic happened. There was a drop in bullying and vandalism, and kids came back to class better able to concentrate. How is that possible? We remove the bubble wrap from around our kids, we let them run, climb, and explore, and they are safer? Hmmm.
When you start to think about it, it makes a lot of sense. When you crowd a bunch of mice into a small area, and they are not able to do anything, they begin to get aggressive. When you require energetic children to sit in their seats for long periods of time, they start kicking the chair in front of them, they start daydreaming, they start talking to or saying mean things to the kids next to them. When you have nothing to do but notice the weaker kids on the playground, you take advantage of your position and become a bully.
If kids were too busy playing, they would not have time for trouble. I remember growing up in middle school we played a game of wall-ball. If you got hit with the ball (the little blue racquetballs), it could really hurt, but kids would play it every day. And when you had the ball, you could certainly get back at those who got you. Yes, I got my paybacks. And we learned not to push it too far or someone would eventually push back or just not play anymore. It was also when skating was becoming more popular, and kids brought their boards to school and showed off and made ramps. They had tether balls, and basketball hoops, and kids played games. They also jumped rope and tried all kinds of tricks and games. In elementary school, I know we had at least one, maybe two short recesses plus an 45 minutes to an hour for lunch and recess. We ate as fast as we could in order to get to the swings first. We had swinging races, spun ourselves dizzy on the merry-go-round, and climbed the monkey bars every which way you could imagine. There were also open fields of grass where kids played tag, threw the footballs, kicked the soccer balls, and sometimes played baseball. We also played jump rope games. Sure, there were some kids that were "too cool" for all that fun, but they were a small handful, and they just stayed as far back in the field as possible stirring up their own trouble. I remember one girl broke her arm from the monkey bars. I don't remember anyone else getting hurt enough to go to the hospital. Not a bad trade-off for all the fun we had.
I won't deny I can be very protective of my kids. I get nervous every time we are apart because I get scared something will happen to me and they won't see me again or the other way around. I just don't want to imagine life without either one. but reading articles like this really help me let go, at least a little bit. I also worry they have not learned enough skills to properly defend themselves verbally or physically. It helps that right now we live in a more closed-off area (not a fenced back yard...much bigger) and there are neighbor kids, so my son gets to go out and explore with them. They watch out for each other, and I can let them play without feeling like I have to watch them all the time. It has been a real blessing. It is something we have not had anywhere we have lived thus far. And the best part is they are out getting exercise the fun way--just good old fashioned playing and exploring.
Will taking away the rules put an end to bullying? Probably not, but it will likely make a difference in the right direction. Will it help kids relieve stress, get their minds off of school work and just enjoy socializing? Definitely. Will it make them better prepared to return to the classroom? According the research, yes. I can't speak to what it is like in the schools across the country right now. I hear bits a pieces, but I homeschool. So share with me what recess is like at your schools...I really want to know it has not changed as much as I hear it has...but if it has, what do you think we should do about it? What should be different in your kid's schools and neighborhoods?
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