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?

"Junior school playgrounds are completely anti-boy IME"

Could you explain further please?

'except at lunchtime' - I'm confused?

There is an area of the playground at ds's school where running is discouraged, and I think this is fair enough.

Oh and, girls enjoy and need to run around too

Maybe the bigs kids are knocking over the little kids.

Our school banned running games when all DCs were in the playground because it was small and too many accidents happened. When they were on the field or at staggered lunchtime they were allowed to.

I am a midday/TA and at times we have banned football and running games for a short time due to too many accidents, or fighting and arguing. There are not enough middays in most schools and when you get a spate of children falling over, they need to be attended to and then you're not focussing on the rest of the playground. Its a fine balance.

about my anti boy comment?
Just my experience, that any kind of normal 'boy stuff' like eg running or climbing is treated as though this is the worst kind of crime.

We have a small rural primary with an attached pre-school so the children running around together are ages from 2 - 11 years. Yes there are sometimes accidents but that is how they learn to play together, and they do play together. They have play equipment, a tree, a field for football and a yard so seem very lucky compared to other schools.

Playtime is just that, time to play and not have to sit still.

WTAF? No wonder childhood obesity is such a rampant problem.

I am so glad my kid's school is sensible about this. He takes his trainers to school every day and spends breaktime playing football or tig. Unless it is extremely muddy they are allowed on the school field where they seem to spend a lot of time rolling around, crawling through bushes and digging random holes.

He is nine and comes home from school every day absolutely filthy and covered in scrapes. I am perfectly happy with that.

Lisbeth I would say those are child-like behaviours not 'boy stuff'.

Banning running completely is just madness though. Clarify with the school and let them know your objections.

Ynbu. It's bloody ridiculous, kids do run around, kids play, as does any species of babies, ie kittens and puppies. Always have done, always will do. It's part of their development. My dd was extremely playful as a child, there's no way she'd have not ran in the play ground.
Telling a child not to run about is like telling the pope not to believe in God.
However I can see how it's been enforced as schools are understandably terrified of being sued, and getting into trouble with ofsted, and it is sad that children are suppressed because basically people sue for the as little as a scraped knee, and the solicitors Love the commission.
You're sensible and you wouldn't go up screaming like a banshee because your child has fallen over but unfortunately not every parent is like you.

" I would say those are child-like behaviours not 'boy stuff' "

Well maybe so, but you know that boys do run and climb more than girls do, and this kind of thing is really stamped on in many junior schools which are mostly matriarchal societies.
Good grief, my kids school even used to have a 'playsafe' officer in the local park who would report back to the school on which boys were the most boisterous. She was never identified though.

Lisabeth - no they don't. Boys sit as much as girls and girls run as much as boys. If they don't it's due to parents encouraging one type of behaviour for a particular sex.

You're sensible and you wouldn't go up screaming like a banshee because your child has fallen over but unfortunately not every parent is like you.

This is the problem in a nutshell I think. I am a parent at midday at the school I am at and at one parent listening session one parent said there were too many accident letters coming home. We write a slip for every single cut, graze and bump, however minor and I have never dealt with a serious injury on the playground.

~Boys are often more active, I know saying such a thing is a crime in mumsnetland, but there we are then.

Lisbeth, in my experience boys just play differently to girls. Both just as active.

Telling a child not to run around is like telling the pope not to believe in God

Artandco - I have two boys and two girls parented the same way. Boys and girls do play very differently. That is not to say that girls don't like to run around, but a lot of boys seem to need to, not just run around, but get quite physical, bumping, wrestling and play fighting. Not many girls seem to enjoy that sort of play.

It is so interesting to observe how children play. Boys definitely seem to want to test each other and will playfight but the girls will sometimes join in with this. There is the inevitable, chasing each other around but girls tend to join in with the rough and tumble if the boys have lead the way more. The children at our school play "pass the squeeze" which they all the children join in with. Its a lovely game but can get a little boisterous.

I'd not be happy if running in playtime was banned.

But I think you should ask their teacher about it before going to the head, in case it's something like "you can't run in this particular part of the playground" or some sort of temporary ban.

People are missing the 'except at lunchtime' bit, and are going off on their own rant. The ops dc are allowed to run around for their hour lunchtime playtime just not for their 15 min breaks ;for whatever reason .

I missed it too, you are quite right. Maybe its to ensure calm and orderliness when the pupils return to lessons after a very short play.

I honestly think schools should butt out of breaktimes. For decades years we had hopscotch, Conkers, skipping ropes, tig, manhunt (or hunt the cunt as we called it) but now you can't have any of that in case someone gets hurt

lisbeth I gather you're making these sweeping sexist statements with some sort of evidence behind them?