https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:17:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879341 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 09:07:57 +0000 kiddosc 2879341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lisa1783: Part of the problem was we weren't provided with ANY information about how the program will be implemented at our school. All we have to go by is the FAQ and I don't really like their answers to several of the questions. For example...</p> <p>"All we ask of kids who engage in imaginative and creative play is to include and invite others to play as well." I think it's ok for my child not to have to play with everyone, he has to be respectful of everyone, but if he doesn't like someone he doesn't have to play with them in his free time. </p> <p>"Play structures are great for explorative play, physical activity, and mobility. However, this type of play is often very individualized. A playworks recess is designed to help students build community by playing together" We have some very nice structures on our playground and they are busy during recesses with groups of students playing in various ways. Climbing and swinging are great for large motor development and great for engaging the whole body in an activity and I don't see a need to limit that in the interest of getting children to play in a group. </p> <p>And they weren't referencing a "playworks ball" it seems to talk about equipment currently available to students. So if a group of two (or even just one) wants to shoot baskets with a school ball, and they just want to play together and not include someone else but they had the ball first, does it get taken away? </p> <p>There are certainly aspects within this FAQ that I can appreciate, conflict resolution, anti-bullying, not taking away recess as a punishment. But we weren't given any details of the implementation that is supposed to happen this month and I want to be sure that my child can continue to use his recess as he chooses and not be limited to structured games led by someone else... essentially not given an opportunity to use his own imagination and initiative to start an activity of his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879335 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 08:49:34 +0000 bhbee 2879335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lisa1783: in addition to recess puts this is a very different light to me than in place of recess! Then it seems like extra PE almost with coaching on being cooperative etc. If that were true I would be on board. Our school only has one recess plus “take 9” (9 minutes walking around the track usually) to meet their minimum recess mandate and then PE 2x/wk and a lot of kids could benefit from more time away from their chair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879320 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 07:23:02 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2879320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lisa1783: First, I think the FAQ is written from the perspective of the child who has friends. I re-read the FAQ on imaginative play and it states kids will be asked to invite others into their imaginative play. It’s a noble idea that chidlren should seek out others to play with and ask someone that is not already playing to join. In fact, I teach my only child this- when he sees someone his size on a playground I encourage him to ask him/ her to play. So let’s say the loner child was engaged in imaginative solo play and he/ she asks others to join and no one wants to. Then what? Does Playworks make the other kids play an imaginative game they don’t want to play? Does Playworks make the solo child join a physical game or team building activity they didn’t want to participate in? I guess I want to know how much intervention is done by the adults when kids (loner or not) don’t just go along with the planned activities. It’s not like recess has an infinite amount of time and getting coached by an adult for any part of it eats into that time. </p> <p>I love the 5th grade/ 6th grade leadership academy part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879310 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 00:21:06 +0000 lisa1783 2879310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm reading the FAQs now and I don't know, I feel like everyone who's having a negative reaction just didn't read it very carefully. It specifically says if your child prefers to have imaginative play or read during recess, they are encouraged to exercise that chose but they will always be extended an invitation to play to know they can jump in at any time. And it's saying if it's a Playworks ball that's not being used during by a Playworks exercise, anyone can play with it but they should use it in a shared activity - meaning they can play with it with a friend. People are reading WAY too into this like </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879309 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 00:11:47 +0000 lisa1783 2879309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son's school has Playworks as a scheduled "class" 2x a week in addition to recess. I've met with the coaches that run the class and really appreciate the messages they're trying to instill and, honestly, my son loves Playworks. It's been a really positive experience at our school and most of the schools in Boston are trying to fundraise to get Playworks to their school as well. Not sure how it's being run for your school so you might want to find out if they really are going to be structuring all of recess or if it's like the other poster where it's once a month. In any event, I feel like you might want to get more info before you decide against it - it really isn't as harsh or controlling as you're making it out to be. They do have a full inclusion policy on games but it's not like they FORCE kids to play with each other, it's about having them learn to communicate with each other through play. A lot of the games are pairing kids up, work together for a task/challenge, then switch it up to a new pair after that task for a new task so that everyone gets to learn how to work with different people with an end goal. Also they run a leadership program for the older kids (usually in 5th and 6th grade) to teach them how to coach the younger kids and really develop their confidence, communication, and leadership. Anyway...I guess this goes to say I'm pretty passionate about Playworks based on my experience...not from some FAQ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879179 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 09:36:26 +0000 macintosh 2879179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I may be the odd man out but from what I've read, I don't have a problem with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879143 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 07:08:07 +0000 cake2017 2879143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: I just glanced over it and I disagree with it. Let kids go run off their energy and play however they want to. I remember going to recess and just sitting and reading a book or playing kickball. They have structure in the classroom why recess now? I would also be concerned with the people coming and running this thing during recess- have they been checked out, safety etc. I’m sorry I just don’t agree! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879100 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 18:22:55 +0000 kiddosc 2879100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: There aren’t any incidents I’m aware of... but it’s coming from the district so maybe at another school? </p> <p>@KT326: I hope that’s the way it works out for us. I sent an email to the principal to see if she could share more detail about how the program will work at our school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879098 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 18:20:04 +0000 kiddosc 2879098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: I don’t know how much they’re paying or how many schools in the district are participating </p> <p>@hummusgirl: They really do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879094 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 17:59:21 +0000 KT326 2879094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: to be honest, I haven't seen any major changes in recess since they have implemented it. The kids still get to play and they get to choose whatever they want to do. My son would definitely complain to me if he had to do something he didn't want to do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879089 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 17:39:57 +0000 Jess1483 2879089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh. When I was teaching in inner city Chicago, the administration took recess away entirely because a 7th grader broke her arm on equipment clearly designed for K-2. We had the kids at school 7:30-4:30 and no alternative for outside time. I had to fight to get a program like this implemented at our school because the alternative was no recess at all (and teachers still had to "teach" the playground curriculum).<br /> All of which is to say, I think this sort of thinking also comes from lawsuits and concern for safety, but agree it's misguided and I would be really unhappy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879086 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 17:19:33 +0000 hummusgirl 2879086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Grownups ruin everything! </p> <p>I would also have concerns. I might be more open to it if this was in response to a problem. But as-is, this seems like micromanaging the one time kids are free to do their own thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879085 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 17:03:22 +0000 Autumnmama79 2879085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: I skimmed the FAQ and I'm wondering, do you know how much your school paid to have this group come in? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879081 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 16:13:02 +0000 DesertDreams88 2879081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a parent and a teacher I totally agree with your concerns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879079 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:37:56 +0000 kiddosc 2879079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: I'd be more receptive to them only being present for limited time periods. This was only the preliminary announcement, so we don't have a ton of details yet. I'm planning to email the principal to get more information and ask about some of my concerns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879078 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:27:07 +0000 KT326 2879078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: Our school has implemented playworks. They have a coach that comes out for one week a month during recess to run games. I think the teachers can sign up for a classroom game, where the entire class plays something at recess. But it isn't all the time. Recess is still unstructured the majority of the time. My son has all kinds of stories from his time at recess! He still gets plenty of imaginative play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879075 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:07:34 +0000 kiddosc 2879075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @bhbee: Yes! I can very much understand that recess is not fun for everyone, that some kids are excluded and wish to be able to participate... but this seems like too far in the other direction. I would be much more receptive to them putting together a game in one location that anyone could join in. But WITHOUT dictating what everyone else could do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879074 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:02:19 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2879074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok, so after about page 5 of the FAQ I decided to just respond. This Playworks recess sounds like a great workshop for teachers and adminstrators who supervise recesss to learn skills to prevent bullying and include more children NOT an everyday school program. Seems like the ultimate goal is to leave no child behind on the blacktop. That’s a great goal. However, the play options sound like they infringe on children’s natural abilities to foster their own friendships and independence. Recess is supposed to be unstructured fun and I understand for some kids recess is lonely and more isolating than in the class room. I’m just not sure if the best way to include everyone is taking over the blacktop and basically extending PE during a break period. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879073 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:53:55 +0000 bhbee 2879073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn’t read every word but skimmed the FAQ and I would not be happy to see this!!! I can see the spirit of it in terms of inclusiveness but isn’t that also a totally unrealistic expectation to give kids, that it will always be like that? Doesn’t it take away from their own learning of social skills and interaction with others? And yeah I’d be super unhappy they miss imaginative play. I don’t even have time to type up all my thoughts from this - and some may be off base since it’s a gut reaction - but I definitely hear your concern. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/playworks-recess#post-2879071 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:45:10 +0000 kiddosc 2879071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The elementary school my son attends as a first grader sent out a notice that this company, Playworks, will be coming in "to help make recess safer and more fun." I looked around their website, and it took quite a bit to figure out what it actually is that they do, but it appears that they organize games and add structure and inclusiveness to recess. I can appreciate the inclusiveness aspect, but I really don't appreciate the part about forcing structure into recess. I found a parent FAQ page and I'm in total disagreement with like 90% of it. Students aren't encouraged to play their own imaginative games or within their own friend groups, they might be kicked off playground equipment if it's being used for a playworks game, they can't play ordinary games on the playground if not everyone can be included... they take over the whole recess! </p> <p>So much of our kids lives are over structured... now recess too? Am I over-reacting? What do other parents think about this? </p> <p>Playworks website: <a href="https://www.playworks.org/" rel="nofollow">https://www.playworks.org/</a><br /> FAQ page: <a href="https://www.playworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/FAQ-Parents-Family.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.playworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/FAQ-Parents-Family.pdf</a> </p>