Can kids do gymnastics on the field at playtime?

[Trallers]

At my school the kids have been told by some members of staff that they are allowed to do gymnastics moves but only ones they "know how to do" and not ones they are learning. It's outrageously unsafe isn't it? The head doesn't 'allow' it but some staff members seem to, despite me raising it repeatedly. I tell the kids not to but they don't understand why something they are good at is dangerous, especially when the teacher on duty yesterday said it was fine. Plus they aren't always in ears reach so I have to watch them do 6 back flips in a row, or an aerial cartwheel, as I race across the grass. It's actually making me want to quit as we roll into summer and it's every bloody day. Throw in all the other poor behaviour and I'm tearing my hair out! I have a feeling this isn't happening at other schools as none I've spoken to allow it - would be interested to hear wider responses though.

That is literally what kids do when given grass to play on. If they were attempting these moves on tarmac you might have a point - and yes I am aware that dry ground gets hard in the summer, but even so.

Speak to your headteacher for clarification. Get them to then send out a memo saying what is/isn't allowed to all staff, and to either include the rules into an assembly or pass onto class teachers to remind the children (we always have reminders not to run or roll down the bank).

Fair point, and I get that they want to and so will do. Bit giving it permission amongst flying footballs and games of tag feels insane. Different if in defiance of the rules but for staff to say something so dangerous is fine while watching happily feels crazy to me...

Gosh I spent the whole of my summers at primary school practicing my handsprings. Isn't this what childhood is for?

I honestly don’t understand what’s wrong with a kid doing a cartwheel on some grass?
Do you just want all fun to be banned? Why is that more risky than running, playing football or mucking about?

Why would you want to stop them? This is the absolute best kind of physical play, especially for girls who are at risk of losing sporting interest as they grow up.
Handstands, backflips, cartwheels, balancing, hanging upside down and swinging on bars are also really good for proprioception and brain development for girls and boys.

Also, kids are generally small and light so even if they crash their face into the floor it’s only from their own height and with their own weight behind it. It doesn’t hurt nearly as much as when adults fall over!

A single handspring is the mild end of it - there's whole long tumbles cutting through football games or down an uneven slope.

We used to do cartwheels, leap frog, handstands etc on the concrete at play time. Honestly the world is going mad if kids can't play freely. Surely football could be just as dangerous but you have no issue with this?

My 9yo spends her whole lunch break doing gymnastics and they don't even have a field so it's just on the smoother tarmac! They have been told not to do certain moves but still to cartwheels etc.

Just to be clear handstands, handsprings, cartwheels I have no issue with and dont say anything.

I actually hope my school are encouraging as much physical movement as this. My daughter is sad that she isn't allowed to hang off the (not very high) bar of her climbing frame at school anymore "just in case".

Do you work at the school?
It seems odd for you to be around so much that you have raised this repeatedly.
Either way you sound very over the top, if a child can do 5 backflips then what’s the issue? There’s probably a smaller chance of injury doing floor moves than a football tackle which regularly leaves boys with broken limbs.

From my experience young girls (in particular) cartwheel all day long, if let.
What exactly are you objecting to?

Cross Post with your latest - so no problem with cartwheels. What are they doing that's a problem?

I thought this was a joke post! Our house and garden are not big enough for this kind of gymnastics. My daughter was grateful for the school fields where she could actually have some freedom and practise to her heart’s desire.

Yes of course they can! My daughter does kart wheels, handstands, walkovers, all sorts. She’s 6. I’d expect the school to allow it rather than tell them they can’t exercise! If they’re doing 6 back flips in a row they’re clearly fine.

I allow cartwheels, backbends and handsprings but not aerials.

But, yes, get clarification from the Head and then everyone follows suit.

Yes, i have a few times for clarification (to which the answer is that it's still absolutely not allowed) but it never goes beyond that unfortunately.

What is your concern, exactly?

Landing on their head in a poorly executed aerial and a broken neck following being sued by a parent because the school technically doesn't allow it, I would imagine!

Yes, I'm supervising them but other staff members supervising other days seem to have their own rules that are not in line with the head's. It's frustrating because the kids don't get a consistent message and I feel very uncomfortable that they are doing such dangerous moves on my watch that they would be doing on a mat in their gymnastics class.

My goodness what a far fetched situation. I remember when I was at school we used to race each other across the playing field doing handsprings, kart wheels, forward rolls, all sorts. We’d go lengthways and the boys would play football across the width of the field.

Huge long tumbles with multiple back flips and other flips that don't involve their hands touching the floor at all. If they got knocked by another child and fell on their head they'd be risk of a terrible neck injury imo. But I seem to be in the minority in worrying about it which to be fair fits with the unbotheredness at school.

Yes this!

Is this for real!!! Unbelievable! I join in, the children are in awe of me. Have you thought of bubble wrapping the children!

Why are you running after them? The staff member that told them it's ok, it's on them.