Layout 5-3 - Playworks

play is powerful.
4
Children learn and develop through play.
They discover how their bodies work. They
practice getting along with others. They
create games, make up rules and engage their
peers and their imaginations.
In fact, play is so critical to a healthy
childhood that the United Nations High
Commission for Human Rights has identified
play as a right for every child.
Yet children don’t get to play like they
used to.
REMEMBER RECESS?
Most of us have positive memories of recess –
happy children laughing, playgrounds full
of four-square, tag and flag football. Sadly,
children all across the country are having a
very different experience.
Many children are coming to school not
knowing how to engage in healthy play.
They haven’t grown up learning games and
don’t know how to resolve the small disputes
that arise when playing with others. This
leads to conflict and fighting for some. Other
children only feel safe on the sidelines staying,
as best they can, out of harm’s way.
As a result recess has become a source of
frustration for teachers. Discipline issues are
prevalent in classrooms as kids return to class
agitated by unresolved conflicts and chaos.
Given these concerns school districts have
drastically reduced or even eliminated recess
altogether.
THE NATION TAKES NOTICE
A 2006 study by the National Center for
Education Statistics found that children who
attend low-income schools get only 66% as
much time on the playground as their middle
and upper class peers.
Results of this trend are troubling at best.
Limiting opportunities for healthy, active
play translates into increased health risks.
Rates of childhood obesity and diabetes are
growing at alarming rates, compelling the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
to demand that schools facilitate a minimum
of 60 minutes of physical activity each day
for children.
There is now a national conversation
about what Sports4Kids has known for a
decade: opportunities for safe, meaningful
and active play are critical to our children’s
health and well-being. Through play, children
build healthy bodies and healthy minds
– and have fun along the way.
61% of teachers say students are
more focused in the classroom since
partnering with Sports4Kids.