Not too long ago, even with the passage of time at the speed of light, my two children were in elementary school. The school was a special place; dingy, old, with spectacular budget cuts but a sparkling and enduring spirit. It had, unfortunately, very modern views on safety.
In early fall, time outs were given if a child did not wear their sweater outside. This because a cold always leads to a quick and painful death. If you picked up a wood chip in the garden, the playground monitor would scream, certain it would be used as a weapon.
When that first snowfall hit its one precious field, the children clamoured to touch, pack, play with every single new snowflake-building snowmen, igloos, icy slides.
Forts were prohibited at every cost. “Forts Lead to Fights” the authorities shouted.
My youngest and her pals built a lopsided snowman in earnest and were told to dismantle it because it looked threateningly like a fort.
If you picked up a snowflake on your black mitt to marvel at it’s unique design you were told to go to the office because throwing snow, even picking it up was verboten.
The wise and adventuresome devils always found ways to break the ridiculous rules in the dark corners out of view from the playground gestapo.
This fear of the unsafe was a greater burden than any danger that lay out there, in my opinion.
What crazy safety rules have you encountered in the playground of your children’s lives? What do you think of this anaesthetizing of all things “unsafe”?
frightening! Red Ass! I love the name but that is far worse than Dodgeball which is bad enough!
OMG I remember Red Rover. I was scared out of my life but kept going back for more!
BTW, I loved this school as well but it was overcome by rules at recess. There was much good though too.
our school banned red rover back in the 70’s. mind you i guess breaking arms is frowned upon usually. that whole snow thing drives me nuts. it’s okay to build massive sand castles and fling sand at people but forget about the snow. at least our school lets kids be kids and there are always these massive snowballs in the park every winter.
the kids help each other to make the biggest balls they can!
Get this… we have to put our kid in a car seat! Can you believe that nonsense? 😉
I don’t actually recall too much seriousness at my elementary school growing up. We had bats for baseball, mini sticks as Christine suggests, and we were allowed to play Red Ass… which involved whipping tennis balls, often soaking wet, as each other’s bottoms as a consequence for a sporting misqueue.
I will say this… I wish they had banned teatherball… that game is a horrifying nightmare waiting to happen!
yes, thankfully very resilient and up for any fun. Remember the facewash? Horrible but a right of passage that I fear is no longer available!
Oh geez, way to suck the joy and wonder out of winter… and I say that as someone who enjoyed snowballs fights a lot, even after getting my glasses smashed hard against my face by an iceball. Kids are resilient creatures.
Gosh that sounds all sorts of awful!
We have none that I can think of. In fact I think we’re the only school in our region that still allow the kids to bring mini sticks to school and play during recess.
In the winter you can see a field of forts and snowmen in the playground.
Our kids are encouraged to play and create and and have fun and even…wait for it – take chances!
And be children.
My sons grade 4 teacher even lets them chew gum. She read a study about OT and autism that said it’s very good for focus and concentration because of the deep pressure it offers in the jaw, neck and head. So she decided to give it a shot with all the kids.
I LOVE our school.
LOVE.