A Little Recess is Good for ALL of US

I think play is underrated.  It scares me how many children never get to go outside and run amuck.  I enjoyed that part of my childhood.  Running amock is something I still do quite well.

******************

We have students so entrenched in school.  So focused.  So stressed.  I liked the parts of school that would be considered frivolous today-- I always loved coloring leaves the fall colors of red, orange, and yellow.  There's probably not a standard that matches that activity.

******************

"Go outside and get some of this energy used up."  I remember all of my teachers telling that to our class.  We had a short recess at 10:00, after lunch, and at 2:00.  "Time to get back to work."

******************

I am watchful when I'm keeping Mary Michael and Sally.  Bugs, hidden perils, unyielding ground, steep steps, bath water, stove, dogs, cats, running in the house.  I sure don't want them hurting themselves. Sharp pencils, running with sticks, fire, glass, poison ivy-- I am on Red Alert when the girls are here.

******************

Let me tell you about the time I:

1.  Played with matches

2.  Petted strange dogs

3.  Created a bug zoo

4.  Raced to see how fast I could ride my bike down a hill

5.  Climbed a tree and hung out over a highway to see what was on the tops of semi trucks

6.  Tried to see if we could shoot a neighbor with a bee bee gun (we could and did)

7.  Watched a Kindergarten friend fall off the top of the slide and break his arm (the teacher was right-- do not stand up on that platform) (the teacher did get more credibility in my 5 year old eyes)

8.  Rode a mean Shetland pony all around Colo, Iowa with a friend, Deb Liston, for  $5.00 per day

9.  Took my clamp on roller skates to school for recess-- we all skated

10.  Left Kindergarten and walked home by myself because I was tired of her (the teacher) bossing people around.   That was not a good idea.

******************

Obviously, I wasn't the easiest child with whom to deal, but I don't think I was horrid.  I might have been challenging.  I could also read upside down and made sure I knew everything on the teacher's desk-- everyday.  I could have been a spy.  I still could be a spy if my eyesight was better.

******************

So, I'm hear to tell you that we all need to run a little more, laugh a little more, love a little more, and learn a little more.  School is serious business....but our children need to the benefit of all of our knowledge....and that knowledge includes knowing that "play is a child's work and work can be their play."  Instruction can have depth of focus and still be fun-- I learned most of my physics content from my bike accidents, my biology by my collections of crazy outside stuff, and my chemistry by cooking with Daria.

******************

I am not on my high horse tonight.....I am still thinking about that mean little Shetland pony.  That was $5.00 well spent.  Right, Deb?

******************

Those side effects-- boredom, apathy, a selfish me me me world.  Playgrounds teach the negotiation skills, agility, and strength of character.  A pick up kick ball game creates sequential thinking, analytical reasoning, and evaluation of fellow team members.

******************

So, it might be worth your while to take a recess, folks.  We're "grown up" but it wouldn't hurt any of us to "go outside" and "get rid of some of that energy".  It's time to get along and compromise.  Grow and love.  Take time to watch the clouds and smell the flowers.  Me, I'm going to find a Shetland pony to love!