Recess Games Are Better Safe Than Sorry

Recess Games

Better safe than sorry. An expression Americans are exposed to and familiar with, especially parental figures. Adults who are new to the parenting game live by this guideline. A parent or guardian’s sole concern is the safety of their children. Their actions will probably be based on texts read or on first-hand experience, but instinctually, parents will play the safety game. It is this instinct and concern for young students’ safety that is causing school districts across the nation to review what recess-like games are appropriate in the elementary school setting. Games such as tag, dodge-ball, and football are a risk to student safety and should be removed from the public school system despite the developmental strengths

Simply, the student-teacher ratio is far too great to effectively maintain a safe atmosphere for children to play in. 70% of accidents and injuries come from falling off equipment, which still leaves three in ten incidents relating to kids playing rough. Many school districts have already banned games on the playground that violate a “no-touch” policy. These games, however, are still allowed in the physical education aspect of the day, under close adult supervision. For the most part, each school is in charge of its own restrictions that will be enforced. The “no-touch” policy is a popular choice. The degree of restriction varies, but the general trend protecting safety is to allow no contact games; no pushing or grabbing; in football, no tackling or blocking; and, no games that can result in shouting and hurt

They claim that this is the children’s opportunity to be creative and become used to cooperating and working with one another. The unstructured time fuels the imagination. Then again, so do in-class activities. If children are given the chance to move about the room and interact in group activities, they develop the same skills. Even if an indoor recess is developed, simple board games will accomplish the same tasks as dodge-ball and tag. For example, the game “Clue.” You can have up to six players participating, and through process of elimination and imagination the “killer” is exposed. Best of all, no one gets hurt.

The games help prepare children for the future. They develop life lessons such as how unfair things can be. But so does academics. Children compete for class ranks and scholarships. They will be involved in the same classes and activities, taking the same exams and doing the same homework for years. They will fight for each other’s approval and respect. All these things that can be accomplished outdoors have just safely been moved to a desk in a closely supervised