Mahtomedi school changes the dynamics of recess

At first glance, recess at O.H. Anderson Elementary School in Mahtomedi looks like recess anywhere else. Children are running and laughing, some are in the grass throwing a football, and others have organized a kickball game.

But O.H. Anderson recesses have undergone significant changes this school year as part of the "Positive Playground" initiative, which aims to alleviate bullying and spur children to be more active.

School principal Kirsten Bouwens said the playground often is a starting point for problems and more than half the students who report being bullied were bullied on the playground. Positive Playground sets rules and expectations for behavior while still allowing a fun environment, she said.

"We need to be intentional about teaching expectations on the playground just as when (the students are) in the classroom," she said. "If a child is upset on the playground about something that happens, guess what happens when they come into the classroom and it's time for math? It carries over."

New ball games and games of tag have been introduced that emphasize cooperation instead of competition. And classic recess activities such as football, kickball and four square have been re-envisioned with new rules that encourage teamwork and limit the number of students playing in one game.

Football was renamed Four Down Football and only eight children are allowed to play at a time. The game is based on passing, and tackling is not allowed, which helps level the playing field, said Syd May, a paraprofessional at the school.

"There's one set of rules now, so everyone's sort of on a learning curve" she said.

Kickball participation is limited to six students per game, so all six get to participate, and fewer arguments break out.

"I love the fact that kids who normally didn't play are playing. In the past, there would be 15 kids lined up to play kickball, and somebody would always budge in front and say 'You can't kick,"' she said. "(Positive Playground) really changed the whole dynamics of that."

Students also are being taught techniques to settle playground disagreements without an adult.

"We do rock, paper, scissors," fifth-grader Mattie Prayfroc said. "You're supposed to figure it out and not get mad about it."

Students said one of their favorite changes is fewer students on the playground. In previous years, as many as 240 students could be on the playground at once, but this year, the school changed the schedule so only 120 are at recess at the same time.

But some students still yearn for the days when recess meant grass-stained jeans and scraped elbows.

"It's OK, but it's not as fun," fifth-grader Gavin Zemke said. "They changed football because we used to push each other too hard. But that's football."

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Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press

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