I Just Want A Playground!
When I was a kid, the recess area at my elementary school consisted of a few painted lines on concrete, a basketball hoop and 1 or 2 giant rubber balls. All I wanted was playground equipment, but when I asked why we didn't have it, I was given an explanation of what liability is.
Thinking back, it was probably better we didn't have it. We played games. Red Rover. Dodge Ball. Freeze Tag. Kickball. Acted out scenes from Dallas and Dynasty (I'm rolling my eyes, too). In short, we used our imaginations. We worked together on teams. We resolved conflicts.
Around here, all of the schools have thousands of dollars worth of playground equipment. At Harry's future elementary school, they have 4 separate sets of equipment. Driving by the schools around here, I've yet to see anyone with a ball or the appearance of an organized activity. I drove by Mt. Vernon elementary yesterday and it looked like every single kid was off of the ground and on the equipment. No one even seemed to be interacting. They were laughing and having fun, but not working together.
Right now, Harry's school has a track, a sand pit, a playhouse and a tree house piece of equipment (it looks liek a treehouse but it's not in a tree). It's set up so that they use their imaginations. They also have balls, trucks, dolls....the kids interact. They often beat on each other, which I am not happy about but, hey, isn't that also what I'm waxing nostalgic about?
Harry came home 2 days again with several cuts on his face. A. hit him with a shovel. Lovely. It wasn't deep. I don't think it will scar. In fact, it's almost gone. Last night I had drinks with the kid's mom. I didn't mention it. S's parents never mentioned to us when Harry bit their kid at daycare. I do suppose it's good for them. Kevin actually said Harry is a "rough and tumble little boy." He's not. But he wasn't affected by the injury. The Neosporin, yes, but the injury, no. I say, on this day (who knows about future days) it's good for him. We're missing picture day anyway while we're on vacation...No one mentioned picture day until yesterday!
Maybe in 2 years when I join the MacArthur PTA I can mention that they need to play more dodge ball.
Thinking back, it was probably better we didn't have it. We played games. Red Rover. Dodge Ball. Freeze Tag. Kickball. Acted out scenes from Dallas and Dynasty (I'm rolling my eyes, too). In short, we used our imaginations. We worked together on teams. We resolved conflicts.
Around here, all of the schools have thousands of dollars worth of playground equipment. At Harry's future elementary school, they have 4 separate sets of equipment. Driving by the schools around here, I've yet to see anyone with a ball or the appearance of an organized activity. I drove by Mt. Vernon elementary yesterday and it looked like every single kid was off of the ground and on the equipment. No one even seemed to be interacting. They were laughing and having fun, but not working together.
Right now, Harry's school has a track, a sand pit, a playhouse and a tree house piece of equipment (it looks liek a treehouse but it's not in a tree). It's set up so that they use their imaginations. They also have balls, trucks, dolls....the kids interact. They often beat on each other, which I am not happy about but, hey, isn't that also what I'm waxing nostalgic about?
Harry came home 2 days again with several cuts on his face. A. hit him with a shovel. Lovely. It wasn't deep. I don't think it will scar. In fact, it's almost gone. Last night I had drinks with the kid's mom. I didn't mention it. S's parents never mentioned to us when Harry bit their kid at daycare. I do suppose it's good for them. Kevin actually said Harry is a "rough and tumble little boy." He's not. But he wasn't affected by the injury. The Neosporin, yes, but the injury, no. I say, on this day (who knows about future days) it's good for him. We're missing picture day anyway while we're on vacation...No one mentioned picture day until yesterday!
Maybe in 2 years when I join the MacArthur PTA I can mention that they need to play more dodge ball.
posted by Kimberly at
3/27/2008 12:13:00 PM
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