Both of my kids were asked by their grandpa this past weekend what their favorite part about school was. The answer from my 3rd grader was the same answer he heard from my Kindergartner: “Recess!”
Recess was definitely a favorite part of my day in elementary school too. My favorite thing to do at recess was swing on the swingset. I was good at swinging- I was always the first kid to get the highest. I had no fear. I loved the feeling of the wind in my hair on on my smiling cheeks.
In 4th grade I moved to the “big kids” playground, and they didn’t have any swings for me anymore. I guess they thought big kids didn’t like swings. So in 4th grade I was forced to play on the bars- not the monkey bars, the bars where all the gymnast little girls can spin around for an eternity with one leg over the top of the bar. I quickly realized that I was definitely not a gymnast and the bars were not my thing. Suddenly chasing boys around the field seemed to be my thing. (I bet my dad wished they had swings on the big kid playground.)
Even now as an adult when I take my kids to the park, I will get on the swings with them. We swing like spiders together, they sit backwards on my lap with their legs and feet behind me. I watch the wind in their hair and on their smiling faces and we laugh and swing higher than any other kids on the playground!
In the past twenty years, children have lost an average of 8 hours of recess a week. Danimals Rally for Recessis a national initiative designed to create healthy competition, pitting school against school. Go to Danimals Rally for Recess for a chance to win $20,000 for your Elementary school playground. Plus each day Danimals is giving recess-related prizes to keep kids healthy and active. Share your Recess memories below and go to Rally for Recess for more information on how your school can win!
I have partnered with Dannon/Danimals to help promote the “Rally for Recess” campaign. I have been compensated for my time and commitment to the program, which includes writing about the promotion and product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. Contest Rules.
About Stephanie
