Year 7 & 8 children in break time?!!! Is PLAYING a thing of the past?

DS would play football (or any sport) if he could but it's not allowed. Inner city. Not enough space.

I was hoping my DD would go to an all girls school where they deliberately keep break and lunch very short so they can finish early and do extra curricular stuff (though I'm sure it's really to stop teenage girl shenanigans).

DS1 is in year 7 lunch is only 30 mins so most of it is spent eating or queuing to eat. All the DC except prefects have to be outside or in the social indoor areas at breaks.
There are a couple clubs, quizzes etc in the library, they can play football, netball or tennis.
They are allowed phones DD in yr 11 is never off hers. DS1 win't have a phone though...yet.

Mine stand around talking about sport and music (DS). DS played table tennis (tables outside in playground) quite a lot in Years 7 & 8. Some of DD1's friends do gymnastics. She seems to stand around telling jokes. No-one "plays".

My DD had just started Y7 at a girls indy. They are not allowed in their form rooms at break and are supposed to go outside. Lunchtimes are a bit different as there are loads of clubs to do, or they can go to the library to do homework (useful if they have an after school club).
My Ds is at a boys indy - even in Y9 they still play football sometimes. He is not allowed his phone during the day until Y10.
Seconday is different to primary - they have other things to do during break and lunch - sorting out books etc for the next lot of lessons, buying snacks/lunch, clubs, speaking to teachers to sort out work/homework problems and lots of clubs. If it is a big school and they only get 20 mins or break, much of that can be spent getting from the last lesson to the form room via the canteen and going to the loo!

Mine don't 'play' just stand around talking (taking selfies) or go in the library

DS is Y11 and still plays football every break and lunchtime. It ruins his very expensive adult sized school shoes and he if usually covered in mud.

DD is Y8 and often spends breaks running round the grounds playing "it", hiding games etc although she will some times go to the library to do homework and she does go to one lunchtime club. Her school has a very strict no phones policy so nobody can use them during the lunch hour.

I just realised yours aren't there yet or I might have been a bit more constructive. The clubs look amazing and there must be loads of kids doing them - just not mine. She has a growing group of friends who all hang out together and laugh a lot (even if someone is always filming). Can't imagine mine 'playing' as such - but I don't remember playing at secondary either.

Mine uses her phone if the group picture her friend posted on Instagram is anything to go by. Clubs are for neeks apparently.

Depressing!