What real playing space is left? Not on the street, not off the paths or in the parks, not in the wasteland, not at the neighbor's house... and there's an additional obstacle: friends are not available. Swept away by the virtual, it has become difficult to coordinate in the real world. What's more, their parents keep them busy or keep a close eye on them. What's left?
The schoolyard!
Play is one of school's neglected assets, one of the only places where you can play with others, in real life, in groups, in the same physical, real space. By agreeing on the rules, play becomes a shared culture, evolving and adapting to each context.
How can schools take advantage of this? Better than installing wi-fi in common areas and playgrounds. Better than sanitizing the playground with infantilizing modules and supervised sports. Creative, undefined spaces are the most flexible way to play. We can facilitate the creation of spontaneous games, animate and teach new games... schoolyard games, someone showed them to you; their diversity is astonishing.
Children like to go to school so they can play with friends. There's a link between feeling at peace and having friends to play with in real life. Play promotes socialization and motor skills. We're not talking about educational play. We're just talking about playing for fun!
Are you game ?
Denys Lamontagne - [email protected]
Illustration: StockSnap on Pixabay
