Recess/lunchtime activities at your children's schools?
I'd love to hear about some fun and interesting things that your elementary school-aged kids have available to them at their schools during recess/unstructured play time. My 7-year-old son is having a harder time at lunchtime (not athletic and pretend play with his class tends to lean toward "battle" games) and I'd like to work with the school to provide for him + others like him. The school currently has one play structure (this is where the "battle games" tend to take place so we're trying to stay away from this area), basketball hoops, volleyball net and blacktop. They also provide different sport balls for kids to use. Thank you!
Mar 24, 2017
Parent Replies
Our elementary school had a table (hosted by adults) of cooperative board games (Peaceable Kingdom brand) during recess one afternoon, and it was a huge success! The tables were swarming with kids. Our school is also working with the YMCA (at a cost) to engage kids who are not sports or "battle" prone in alternative activities. Lastly, the school library is open for children to hang out / check out books during these times. Good luck!
My son has similar interests as yours. Some things he likes to do at recess: play with his kendama or yo-yo, dig in the dirt and sand pit (I bought 10-15 plastic garden trowels that were approved by the school for kids to use, and it became quite a popular activity!), "parkour" (he's not very athletic or a risk taker so is mostly hopping on things), catching bugs, playing "Shark out of Water" on the playground equipment, and hide n seek.
You should look into getting Playworks at your school. This is a nonprofit based in Oakland that provides "recess coaches" to ease the kids out of bullying / battling type of play, teaching them traditional schoolyard games (like foursquare), and -- this is really their strength -- teaching the kids emotional intelligence, how to advocate for themselves or redirect themselves out of a bullying situation, and generally how to avoid the bullcrap many of us dealt with as kids. I really cannot recommend this program highly enough. http://www.playworks.org/