Play with your children or students on the playground!

I've decided to make a new habit of posting at least one article a week. I believe that this is a reasonable amount in order to get my point further across, and in an area that I feel is very important in education of our future generations.

You know that classic stigma of adults being too old for the playground or playing with your students or children? Well, I truly am a huge believer in that students seriously seem to think that we were never kids in our lives, and in a lot of respects that we never have seen or touched a playground in our life. This is by all means and in most instances very false and creates that false image with it. I hate when I see the stereotypical adult or teacher standing around on their phone, or scolding students from the sideline which should be left for the yard duty or stationed person.

This leads to my next question for teachers, adults, and parents...have you ever in your adult life considered playing on a playground with your students or children? If not, I would highly recommend that you do. Believe it or not, I was an avid playground user with my students at my elementary school and feel that it opened yet another gateway to connecting with my students at a level beyond the classroom setting! In fact, what came of it was even more awesome and it was a self-reminder that the more carefree you are and let down your wall, the more positive the feeling can be and damn can it really put a huge smile on your face!

Why could this be important? There are very many reasons as to why this playground interaction could be important if you ask me for both children and adults, as well as teachers. I will list the ones that come to my mind from solely observations and my thoughts, and feel free to comment!

For one, being engaged with students or children, and acting as though that you are like them can create buy-in in a number of instances, both educationally and in the task of life which can be quite daunting and scary at times, especially for a child! This also helps with the bonding process and establishing further of a sense of security and well-being for a child. This is applicable to ALL children by the way, and especially those who need more movement or to be on their toes and engaged with their environment.

Secondly, it creates opportunities for both students and adults alike to experience health benefit opportunities, which is VERY VERY important and almost pertinent to overall health. This also takes away from time spent with technology and gives a sense of relief, and opportunities to be living in the moment! It further sets the example that we as adults can step away from technology and have EVERYTHING be okay.

Thirdly, it helps you as an adult to unleash the carefree beast in yourself that had existed when you were a kid yourself. I feel as though our society really pushes for professionalism, and looking as though you are a successful and mature. Let's face the music that the more we can let our guard down and be humans, the more comfortable we become with ourselves and where we came from. The playground is one area that has had some sort of impact on EVERY adult in some way, shape, or form. Why stop doing it and why establish that sense of it being beyond you? Embrace it and enjoy it when and where you have the opportunity. Don't be afraid of looking weird or being different...in fact, do yourself a favor and turn off that mindset for even just 5 or 10 minutes, if not 30 minutes or even an hour in due time.

Lastly, I believe that it will help us to perceive the further importance of movement and make more attempts in investing in quality play equipment for our students and children that is accessible to them in the public or in schools. There are play structures that are falling apart everywhere and this is one area that should be maintained, and in fact even built to support more adults and children alike, which further promotes health. Let's do ourselves and our future generations a favor by starting the trend and impacting younger ones where we can!

Takeaways that I hope you get from this article. I hope that if you take away any areas from this article, it would be in the areas of:

1) Do not be afraid to engage with the playground regardless if you are an adult or teacher!

2) Do it for the sake of the children and showing them that you were a kid at one point!

3) Do it for the sake of your health and making yourself vulnerable as an adult!

4) For the sake of self-realization as to why we really need to invest more into our playground infrastructures...it should be a benefit and welcoming place for EVERYONE!

Please, leave comments and add your take on this subject matter! Also, do me the honor and just try, for the sake of trying, to get on a playground by yourself with a carefree attitude, or for your students, children, grandchildren, and in some respects great grandchildren! See how it makes you feel and take note of that thought going forward.

Cheers,

Stephen Lenz

An avid amateur bicyclist with a huge love for the outdoors. I also have a drive, a huge heart, and a love for people in general!

I am currently a teacher with bigger aspirations of making a difference for elementary school children and the structure of their days. Whether this takes place through direct or indirect involvement of my job will be a story in in of itself in due time.