Youth Program Review
School Removes Playground Rules and Sees Fascinating Results
Here’s a fascinating article about some practical, although brave, research conducted by Auckland University of Technology and Otago University working with Swanson Primary School and Royal Road Primary School in New Zealand.
The school removed playground rules in order to encourage active play, with the additional effect that it has helped improve the resilience of students, as well as reduce the incidences of bullying and injuries in the playground.
“Mudslides, skateboarding, bullrush and tree climbing kept the children so occupied the school no longer needed a timeout area or as many teachers on patrol.”
What can we learn from this when it comes to Scouting? Do we allow kids to actively play (and learn!) without impeding them with overbearing safety rules? Better still, do Scouts in your Group have a say in the way they are kept safe – the rules of the game?
Be sure to watch the video… How fantastic is the youth involvement in decision making at this school?!!
Find out more about the Youth Program Review, and their learnings from external experiences here.
