Both as a mother and former pediatric nurse, I see kids today spending less and less time just playing! Kids’ play should entail running, skipping, jumping and hopping, using their imagination in outdoor fun, getting their feet moving and hearts pumping and games that keep their mind active. It seems to me that every parent and teacher should support recess and active play in school. Kids need to get up and move. They concentrate better in class when lessons are broken up with “body activity.”
When my daughter was ready for school, we chose a nearby school with an excellent academic record. But I was surprised that access to play there was limited. The children played in a parking lot without lines and with minimal equipment. So I made it my mission to support the children and the school by providing what I could to improve recess. I put together a proposal of how they playground could look with bright lines, colors and games of foursquare and hopscotch and brought this to the school principal.
She was more than appreciative! I learned quickly that the staff was very busy with the day-to-day and sometimes schools just need a parent or two to step and take action. We held a walk-a-thon to raise money to buy paint. It was a great day, with healthy exercise and it was wonderful to see the kids “work” for their play. I contacted the local high school and invited art students to gain community service hours by painting a map of the United States. Then the following Monday, I brought craft paper to school and asked the teachers to encourage kids to write Thank You notes to the high schoolers. They turned out great!
As word got out about the work on the playground, other parents started helping. One parent contacted me to ask why the kids weren’t able to play with balls at recess. This was a safety concern; unfortunately the parking lot let balls roll all over, and kids were prone to chase them into the street. Within a week, that parent had his company install a fence. Another parent installed a tetherball on the playground. As word spread, so did the action. And several small actions became huge improvements for the kids play area!
My recommendation for other parents is to do what you can. Simple changes can make a big difference. My principal was very welcoming to the changes. We parents definitely have a lot on our plates, but remember we don’t get this time with our kids back. Take a fews minutes a day to focus on your kids. Have the kids make up a game and play it. Throw a ball. Kick a ball. Play tag. Set your phone alarm for a set time everyday and play. Set realistic goals for your family though. Don’t make it too much; you'll never get it done and start feeling that parent guilt. Instead have fun playing along the way!
Deb Udo was a pediatric nurse for more than 10 years before becoming a mother of four. After observing the changes in lifestyles of children over several years, Udo started PromotePlay to encourage her own kids, their friends and kids across the country and around the world to find more time to play.
