Do you remember recess from when you were a young elementary-aged student? I have two vague memories of this footloose and fancy-free time during the school day. My first memory is from first or second grade at Lincroft Elementary, and I was running around the school black top, chasing a very cute boy in my class, which is a tried-and-true method of letting a male know you like him. My second and only other memory of recess is during third grade at Hilltop School. I remember a gaggle of girls giggling as we raced in and around the playground equipment trying to steal the Pittsburgh Steelers hat off one very cute boy’s head. So, as I am writing this, I now see and acknowledge that boys were clearly the common denominator in how I spent my recess time.
I have recently rejoined the professional work force and am working as the Development Director at a small, private school, and once a week, for one half hour, I get to supervise the kindergarten through fourth grade students on the Lower School Playground during their recess. And let me just say, I agree with Merriam-Webster that recess is a “suspension of business or procedure”, but I question the “often for rest or relaxation” part of the dictionary’s definition. These kids are ALL IN when it comes to recess! There is no resting happening anywhere and, while they may feel relaxed when recess is over, I do not.
I spend my half hour watching carefully to make sure no child falls from the top of the monkey bars or rock wall, or topples the wrong way down the slide. I pray this does not happen, not only because I would hate for any of the students to get hurt, but also because I will actually pass out if anyone is bleeding and wouldn’t that be a beautiful sight? My senses are heightened as I listen for any sign of conflict, making sure students are taking steps to resolve their disputes independently, while also waiting for that moment when the conflict may escalate, and I must step in to teach a lesson. It is taking more energy than I anticipated to tap into my imagination- I know I used to have one. I recently dug into my deep well of “that time when I could pretend” and ate a sandwich made of leaves (think elementary school-playground version of a lettuce wrap). I have regular chitchats with students about the value in keeping our hands to ourselves and I hear myself saying things like “You hurt your ear? Well, that’s too bad. Thank God it’s still attached”. I am the official ball rescuer, retrieving all objects that get kicked over the fence, and I am the unofficial referee for pick-up soccer games that usually result in someone being upset that I did not enforce the off-sides rule (Really? There are unequal teams of 2 or 3 students, no lines, the mulch field on which they are playing is no more than 10 feet long by 8 feet wide, and the pretend goals are two trees on one side and two fence posts on the other, neither goal of which is of equal width, and they are not even using a real soccer ball, but sure, let’s be picky about off-sides!). I am also the ombudsman- the official receiver of many complaints like “Can you please tell Charlie not to throw leaves at me? He is keeping me from having the best recess ever.” And in just a few short months on the job, I have tended to twisted fingers and balls to the head, have engaged in multiple monkey bar rescues, and have even been the gracious recipient of Kindergarten confessions about the discomfort of constipation and the value of ex-lax and fiber found in fruits and vegetables. I was shocked a five-year-old knew such a big word and am reminded during every recess that children have no filters.
All of this said, despite the focused energy and overwhelming patience recess requires of me, and despite the challenge of reacquainting my 52-year-old self with the world of pretend, one of the things I LOVE about the school where I work is that recess is still a real thing. EVERY SINGLE DAY kids get a half hour, at least, of actual playtime when they run, jump, and climb, in all weather conditions except heavy rain, and they use their imaginations, their outside voices, and they get all the wiggles and giggles out. They are crawling around on their knees, making holes in their pants and leggings that parents will discover when they do the wash. There is a fence that separates the green top from the playground, and I adore watching the students meet at the fence line, lean into each other, and tell curious secrets that have them whispering and laughing simultaneously. I had forgotten that third and fourth graders still engage in pretend play, and I have loved watching adventures unfold about angry cats, playful dogs, and wild horses, running and leaping, and freeing each other from being held captive (I am still trying to figure out the full storyline and who exactly is holding them captive; please stay tuned). I was impressed with a game of “lion tag” the students created, which was inspired by a pom-pom on one of the girl’s backpacks, and humbled when they made up the simple game of jumping from leaf to leaf, their own fall-inspired Hopscotch. I truly appreciate seeing innocent hand holding, compassionate consoling, ordering wood chips into rows (just because they can), and experimenting with gravity and rolling down the grassy hill. I am thrilled that students are being given time in an academically packed school day to be wild-ish, crazy-ish, imagination-loving children.
The best part of recess? Kids are still chasing each other, fueled by the age-old reality of puppy love. All sorts of crushes being played out as they run through the mulch, and in and amongst the playground equipment. Their eyes light up, they smile, they chase one another, and I find myself laughing out loud. It isn’t just me who spent recess chasing my next true love! (And this is my opportunity to apologize to any boys I chased who did not like the extra attention. So very sorry.) Is once a week recess duty the favorite part of my week? From the responsibility side of things, not really. It’s challenging ensuring their safety when they run, jump, and climb with reckless abandon; exhausting playing referee, ombudsman, and teacher; and frustrating when their behavior occasionally leaves something to be desired. And clearly, as the weather gets colder, I am going to need to invest in a warmer coat. From the JOY side of things, once a week recess duty is absolutely the favorite part of my week. It is filled with wild-ish and crazy-ish antics and amusements and frankly, thanks to the foibles of children, recess is hilarious! It is one of the many amazing benefits of being a student. And I pray that every child in this bright and beautiful world has the opportunity to do what kids love to do at recess and that every child has “the best recess ever”. And honestly, I often pray I do too.
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