5 Ways Parents Can Advocate for More Play in Schools

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Minimalism and Play

In my minimalism quest, I have made nature a top priority for our family. You can read about tips to raise a nature loving kid here, or ways to spend more time in nature here. Through spending more time in nature, I was reminded of the importance of play for children and why I chose a second major in physical education. I’ve always found joy in moving my body, whether in an organized sport, freestyle dancing in my living room, or individual feats like gymnastics or running, the joy has always been there.

Fitness Can be a Form of Play

In adulthood, I forgot about this simple joy. Even as a P.E. teacher I got caught up in the “fitness phenomenon.” I worked out too much, ate too little, and in general was stressed out most of the time. I forced myself to work out when I was already exhausted, kept strict running routines even while pregnant, and as a result slowly began to hate to exercise. Oh I wish I could bestow the wisdom I know now on my younger self. What was I working so hard for?

Don’t get me wrong, it takes hard work to get healthy if you have unhealthy habits in place, but I was on the opposite spectrum. I was a chronic hard worker who didn’t stop. I was headed for burn out.

Motherhood and Fitness

After I had my daughter I had to make major changes to my work out routine. Mostly because I didn’t have the time, was recovering from giving birth, and I was starting to cut out activities that didn’t bring me joy. I slowly realized I had lost joy in running, so I took a year off. Instead, I found other activities that I love: swimming, biking, walking, hiking, and yoga.

I got back into working out as my form of “play” instead of one more task I had to complete before the day was done. Wow, what a change that made. This idea of play and its importance to children spurred a whole series of posts on nature and play. In a country with high childhood obesity rates, I think we could make a few changes on how we view fitness, play, recess, and sports.

Teacher Observations of Creative Play

When I was teaching middle school P.E., I noticed a phenomenon among my students. Some days I purposely gave them less structure, with the task of creating their own game. Perhaps I provided them with a ball, and boundaries, or no equipment with simple instructions. Then, students in their small groups would create their own game with the objects and parameters given.

What I was astonished by was how difficult it was for some students to come up with a game. It really baffled me. Had they never been outside bored with a bouncy ball before? What I noticed was that the seemingly more athletic group could not think creatively, and the group of kids who may not have had specific athletic skills created a game right away. Had being in a sport from a young age squashed their creativity?

The Importance of Play in Schools

Growing up, I had a hockey coach who always encouraged us to go “shinny” at the outdoor rink with our friends, and play different sports, not just hockey. He encouraged us to do this because he believed it bred creativity. You were much more likely to try new moves and be creative when playing a pick up game with your friends than during a competitive state final game. Just “playing” is actually where you can practice a variety of skills, plays, and tactics.

My conclusion based on my P.E. class was that the less athletic kids probably were not put in organized sports at a young age and therefore were left to creatively make their own fun, whereas the athletic kids had been taught athletic skills in organized sports. They had years of rote practiced skills, and had rarely been given unstructured time to “just play.” Yikes, what have we done?

Developmentally Appropriate Play

From a development viewpoint, any sport that starts before the age of 5 should be flexible, with lots of opportunity for play. You also shouldn’t expect kids to actually retain much information or skill before the age of 5. Coaches and parents should focus on body awareness and individual challenges, not rote practice of repetitive skills or tactics. For the most part, the objective should be for everyone to have fun in every practice or competition.

Too Much Pressure?

Just as there is pressure to begin learning to read before developmentally appropriate there is pressure to teach children at an early age the skills and tactics of organized sports. Children should be given the opportunity to explore different ways to move their bodies, use a variety of objects to play, and be individually challenged. Many of these activities can just be met by playing outside, sometimes with no objects, and following a child’s own curiosities.

The minimalism concept of “less is more” applies to children here. Just like academics are beneficial when developmentally appropriate, so are sports. It’s my belief that shoving kids into competitive sports too early, may hinder their creative play.

Benefits of Sports

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of organized sports. I played competitively through high school and college. By learning, practicing and mastering skills I gained confidence, leadership abilities, and self-worth. Leadership opportunities are not just bestowed on everyone and I learned what makes a great team, what doesn’t, and what leadership techniques are effective. You can’t really practice leadership without being in a leadership role and sports give ample opportunities to grow this skill set.

But even more important were the friendships I developed, especially from high school. My best friends who I played sports with are my best friends today. They are still the daring, intelligent, hilarious, and thoughtful group of people they were in high school. This group boasts a climate scientist, reality t.v. production manager, nurse, pharmacist and me a teacher. Even though we see each other now for major events like weddings, we still support and encourage, and when we get together it’s like no time has passed. I wish the same type of life long friendships for my daughter.

Allowing Children to Play

However, playing sports usually comes after school, and is different than creative play. Play should be a priority during the school day, with ample time during recess or a P.E. class to think creatively.

Any P.E. or math teacher will tell you that scheduling a P.E. class for children before a math class will improve focus. Not only that, but our P.E. department once noticed a student couldn’t read in the 7^th grade, not by testing him in my English class, but noticing that he could not skip in P.E. class. Moving your body across the mid-line stimulates cross brain connections and is closely related to literacy skills and readiness.

When do Children Play if Not in School?

Unfortunately, many children in American schools are only given recess as a time for unstructured play, and during this time, sometimes children don’t even go outside. Schools feel pressure to make up more time for raising standardized test scores.

By contrast, most children need more time to play so they can focus for longer periods of time. The CDC reported that “physical activity interventions may offer one approach to improving academic behaviors” ( 28 ). In other words, more P.E. or recess time may help to resolve behavior issues.

Take it From a Teacher

I loved when my 9^th graders had swimming right before my English class. The boys especially were able to focus for longer periods of time, and discussions were richer without the constant distractions that usually entailed.

According to the book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather “many studies have shown that movement and regular breaks from the routine help children’s ability to learn and pay attention, and that recess makes hyperactive children less fidgety and more capable of concentrating” ( Akeson McGurk 66, 67). I don’t know any middle or elementary school teacher who would disagree.

What Can We Do?

I once was given a class of 50+ middle school P.E. students. I’m not blaming my school or trying to point fingers. By contrast, I’m speaking to parents. More disgruntled parents show up when football or hockey funds are being cut, than when literacy scores fall, children don’t have the opportunity to play during the school day, or class sizes become unsafe.

How to Support Play in Schools

1. Ask Questions

First, parents can ask a lot of questions, and not just about their own student. How much time is each student given to play or be active during the day? What equipment is available? Do children have the opportunity to go outside every day? What are major behavior issues teachers are having to deal with?

2. Be Curious About a School’s Budget

Major budget decisions usually have to be checked over with the school board. You can show up to school board meetings, and even meet school board members to discuss options.

3. Collect Advocates

Most teachers would agree that play is essential to development and learning. Teachers and principals can be great advocates in supporting time for play during the school day. Find other parents who feel the same way and voice your opinions.

4. Do Your Research

You can be a squeaky wheel all day long, but researched based strategies sure make a difference in the teaching profession. Explain and explore the importance of play for children. You can read up on what the CDC found here:

CDC – School Based Physical Activity

5. Find Positive Examples

I love seeing the P.E. classes outside at the middle school across the street from where we live. It’s a typical middle school class, where there are too many students, and not everyone of course is actively participating. However, I see many running, jumping, playing, and learning new skills. I see teachers actively responding and coaching, and a school who values this time during the school day.

Let your voice be heard by sending a positive email, or phone call on the amount of activity children are getting outside. Praise great school values around the importance of play when you see examples.

Final Words

I took my daughter to skate with a hockey stick for the first time the other day. She’s two and a half, not old enough to really retain any skill or be skilled, but I secretly wanted her to take to hockey. I secretly wanted her to feel successful, to learn, practice and play with teammates that will be her best friends for life, and I secretly thought she was pretty good for a two year old! Ha! Of course I would! I’m her parent. My ego showed up loud and clear.

Is Your Ego Showing Up?

In many ways, spontaneous play is devoid of ego. Think of the last time you were fully immersed in a playful activity? Did you care who was watching? Did you compare yourself to others? Was it a competition? Or did you just simply enjoy dancing in your kitchen?

It’s hard to take a step back and see your child without your ego. You want your child to have the same fulfillment you had with whatever beloved activity you enjoyed growing up. Your ego wants them to be successful at the activity. Perhaps it will be soccer, or hockey, or maybe she’ll like theater, or art. Whatever the case, play forms the base, cultivates creativity, and builds a curious human.

Join the Discussion

What’s your opinion on the amount of play children get in schools?

P.S. I always ask readers to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I consciously try to document my everyday simple life. Since we happen to be on a debt free journey it can be motivating because most of my activities are intentionally inexpensive. However, if you’re trying to cut out social media, you’ll need to subscribe directly to this blog.

Author

-Maria Halcumb
B.A. in Secondary Education, English, and Physical Education 
M.A. Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction and Reading Specialist

Sources

McGurk, Linda Akeson. Theres No Such Thing as Bad Weather: a Scandinavian Moms Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge). Touchstone, 2017.

The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity …CDC, July 2010, www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/pa-pe_paper.pdf.