Many parents know that the whimsy and freedom of yard time can be stressful for children who feel excluded; or for groups of kid struggling to come up with a game to play. But there shouldn’t be a moment wasted during this time where our children socialize and enjoy fresh air. And thanks to the contributions of PS 234 parents, there is a wonderful solution we’ve been able to introduce called… Kids in the Game (KING).
KING coaches run organized activities during recess time in clearly defined areas of the yard. They offer games and actively facilitate participation in a way that ensures everyone feels included. And the kids don’t need to just play the KING games, they can make up new ones and play in designated areas.
The great thing is that the KING coaches also help with the transition from lunch to recess and recess back to the classroom. And this isn’t the only benefit… across the many schools where KING has a presence they can see that students participate more in activities during yard time; there is a sharp decrease in bullying and increase in in prosocial behaviors; and finally there are fewer injuries when the KING team is on hand.
The below video from the organization says it all. And we thank you for making this possible!
