To think banning 'running' in school playtimes is missing the point of play time?

[HubbaBubbaMumma]

I've got 2 lively DS who are both in primary school. Recently found out that as well as ball games, playing in the trees, on the grass etc 'running around' has been forbidden in the playground except at lunchtime. Is this common? I WANT my kids to run a round at playtime so they get rid of some energy an can settle down to learn and concentrate in class. I don't care if they get the odd grazed knee or bump, they are little boys and they need to run around! I'm thinking of going in to see the Head about this. AIBU?

Is there a letter; in other words have you heard this directly from the school?

I would find out if it's true and then suggest this is what playtime is for!!

I've just been at the DC school for a fun run and the grade 1 class was in the playground. Teacher blew a whistle and told them off for screaming . Surely the outside time is to allow them to let off steam before thy have to sit and learn again

At DS1's school they do have half the playground for running in and the other half for no running at this time of year. Otherwise the 4 year olds who are new to school playgrounds get sent flying by the 9 year olds. Maybe it's something like this?

I always think it is so sad when people tell children not to run especially when they are in a playground

This happened when I was at school!
So ridiculous
We protested

Oh dear! If it's true, this is crap. Our head has specifically said he'd rather our kids learned safe boundaries themselves rather than the school enforce ott rules. They are allowed to climb trees, run, and have a wooden fort which they go nuts on. They have a brilliant time. Yes, there have been a few injuries over the years, but on balance, collectively the parents support the schools decision.

They did this in my DCs' primary school too. I thought it was ridiculous, personally.

Have you heard this from the school itself?

I heard it from DS 1 and DS 2 confirmed also when I questioned it. I'll double check they are not making it up before speaking to anybody. We didn't get a letter (but the school not great at keeping parents informed tbh). I just wondered if other schools do this or if it is unusual - sounds like its not uncommon from answers above.

I agree with you.
That's speaking as a teacher as well as a parent - the whole point of playtime is to run about and use up some energy.

Have I read this wrong? You said they're not allowed to run around 'except at lunchtime'. At my dc school, their only playtime is lunch time. They get about an hour and a half I think. So, this rule in my dc school would mean nothing.

Ours get a lunch break, morning playtime and afternoon playtime (latter 2 are 15 mins I think). They are primary school age.

Mine are primary school age and have been told no running games,like bulldog,chase.They are allowed to walk around though bloody stupid .

So where do the poor kids get their regulation 60 minutes of exercise a day then?

I don't get it. You're supposed to give them their 5 portions (whatever those are) a day of fruit 'n' veg, you'll be reported to Social Services if you so much as put chocolate in their lunchbox, you've got to hear them read to you, recite times tables, do craft projects, make them fancy costumes for World Book Day or whatever, fit in their 60 minutes of activity a day AND make sure they're in bed by 7.30 pm. Something doesn't add up here. If they're back from school (where they spend most of their time not running around) at 3.30pm and you have to fit in teatime as well - there really aren't enough hours in the day.

Wol - to be fair most children do walk to school 30 mins each way so that gets the min 60mins. A play in park after gets 2 hrs.

I kind of see the schools point in some ways. Mine almost always fall over still running on paths at some point so end up with scrapped bleeding legs. So we encourage them to walk on pavements and run on the grass. They do that as they know they get far less pain falling over on grass. Maybe the school doesn't have enough staff to be taking several in and out to clean up blood in a 20min play.

I also agree with the no screaming. Screaming to me is what a child should do when in pain, no when playing. Surely they can play perfectly well talking and laughing with each other?

Lots of play equipment at dc's school which has to be policed by lunchtime staff otherwise sand is thrown in faces, children are pushed or fall off climbing frames, children hit each other or strangle each other with skipping ropes and hoops, in addition to managing behaviours in a large space with lots of hideouts the lunchtime staff are expected to deal with cuts and scrapes and try to teach the children how to play games/skip/hula hoop because they don't know how.

The staff/pupil ratio is about 1:30.

In the balance between safety and happiness, today's daily mail sadface culture will always come down on the side of safety, due diligence and all that.

Crikey. I'd definitely clarify as that is ridiculous.

Wol - to be fair most children do walk to school 30 mins each way

Definitely not the case round here. Most are driven

I would complain. My 4 year old is always running and always hurting herself. That's what being a little kid is about. I was always covered in scrapes as a kid. They surely learn better when they've had exercise and that's also how you learn about using your own body - through taking risks.

Is it possibly a temporary sanction? At the school I work at there are a number of boys who have no self restraint once they get going and charge around like wild animals.

They get too over excited to listen to us staff and this results in more than little bumps and grazed knees, rather other children are literally bowled over or sent flying by them.

These boys mean no harm and are only playing, but their behaviour is dangerous and we have, at times, resorted to banning them from running for the rest of break in order to try and teach them that they need to be aware of the harm they are causing.

A blanket or permenant ban would be ridiculous.

It sounds unenforceable anyway. I imagine it would be impossible to stop any running in a playground full of kids.

That's all well and good so long as the teachers don't yell at the squirmy disruptive kids in their class who never had a chance to get out their excess energy...

That's ridiculous! Surely that's the whole point of playtime?

Junior school playgrounds are completely anti-boy IME

Good grief. how are they supposed to get rid of any excess energy

that is daft. screaming I get, imo children should never be allowed to scream in play. but running.....??