|
Powerfully Positive Playtimes
 '…in our continual search for efficient units of educational administration we have overlooked that the most precious gift we can give the young is social space: the necessary space – or privacy – in which to become human beings.’
Iona and Peter Opie (1969)
Children treasure their playtimes and lunchtime breaks, in fact for most children it is the best time in their day. Through play they develop and build relationships, learn social skills, de-stress and let off steam, exercise and most of all they have fun.
There are some for whom playtime can be the most challenging time in the day, a time when they may be left out of games, have no one to play with, get bullied or called names. In some schools instead of the playground being a place of positive social, emotional and physical activity, it has become a hostile environments with children involved in aggressive play and anti-social behaviour. Research shows us 75% of bullying in schools happens in the school playground (Sharp and Smith 1991-1993) and one of the suggested causes is boredom or lack of lack of stimulus.
In the United Kingdom, primary school, children can spend up to one and a half hours, twenty five percent of their school day in the playground. Therefore it is a vital part of a child’s day and what happens in the playground affects the whole life of the school.
We know from research that when children have a happy playtime they learn better in the afternoon. An added bonus I continue to hear from schools is that how much happier their lunchtime supervisors and teachers are, walking calmly into the staff room after play commenting on their happy playtime, so it’s not just the children who benefit – WE ALL DO!
Making playtime a positive experience for all pupils should therefore be a priority for every school.
This workshop is intended to provide you and the children with a toolkit of ideas that will enhance and enrich any playtime.
Therese has been running Powerfully Positive Playtime Programmes for the last 10 years internationally. . Her first book "101 Playground Games" has just been published in the UK and is planned for release in NZ in 2010. 101 Wet Playtime Games is due for release in the UK in October 2009.
A whole school approach to creating positive and harmonious Playtimes
If a child is unhappy at lunchtime – they are unhappy at school.
This day will:
• Help the whole school promote a positive lunchtime and playtime policy.
• Provide insight into pro active strategies to tackle bullying.
• Re-energise and make playtime more positive through creative play.
• Establish or re–energise the Positive Playground Activity Leaders (PPALS) System.
• Create Zoned Activity Areas.
• Improve Wet Play
• Provide ideas to support our most challenging children at playtime.
Our programme will inspire you to explore strategies the whole school can take ownership of and encourage both the adults and children to engage in creative play
"A neighbour of the school approached me over the holidays to say that she enjoys hearing the kids out in the playground when she is in the garden. And she is out there alot! BUT she says in the last 18 months there has been a recognizable change in the sound of the children in the playground. She couldn't pinpoint it but said the kids sounded happier!"
Brent Caldwell
Principal
Musselburgh School NZ
"The children are more settled and are busy and more co operative. The Playground is a positive place with Playground Pals, Games, Craze of the week, Positive Play & a Friendship Stop. We have a happier, more settled playground and as a result, happier more settled children. With a significant decrease in detentions from poor behaviour at playtimes. We highly recommend this programme." Staff at Muselburgh school.
On a basic level the children come in ready to start work again in a much more settled way.
The children are generally more active and seem to benefit … and this seems to help
them settle quicker and work harder.
I no longer have a queue of children waiting to see me at 1.30pm!
'When we started with the programme playtimes were times of unrest and teachers loathed going out on duty. We now have designated craze areas which have the activities changed weekly, we also have a gardening group meeting once a week and the children are very eager to participate. The children are socialising, practising skills and having FUN at the same time. Busy children are HAPPY
children. Teachers are now enjoying being in the playground interacting positively with the students. There is a lot more laughter and caring for each other in both the playground and the classroom.'
Elizabeth Ferguson and Rebecca Perkins - Nae Nae Primary School Wellington.
Call us today to find out more 03 4426191, e mail: info@successpartnership.co.nz
“Games are the most elevated form of investigation”.
Albert Einstein
Click here to download Powerfully Positive Playtimes
Click here to download The First Five Steps to Creating Happy and Powerfully Positive Playtimes
Click here to download Five More Steps to Create Happy and Powerfully Positive Platyimes
Click here to download 101 Playground Games Free Download
Click here to download Teachers Matter 5 steps to Positive Playtimes
|
