25/04/2020
After class is done, many of the parents at my daughter’s school will happily stay behind and let their children enjoy the playground. An easy decision, really. Let the kids burn off some energy while we catch up with friends, delaying the inevitable chaos that will result when we return home.
It’s a bit of a free-for-all with some kids playing out of sight on the field, some running helter skelter, all manner of ball games being enjoyed, and still others finding new ways to use the outdated park equipment for maximum danger potential.
Now imagine what would happen if it was like this everyday? You may have already read about a school in New Zealand doing just that as it received lots of press in the paper and was all over social media. The reason for all the attention was likely due to the surprising statistics: this unmonitored, no-rules recess approach proved not only to reduce bullying but, shockingly, there were significantly fewer injuries. (Check out this recent follow-up with the principal on how things are going.)
