P.L.A.Y.ing around at Wickwire

P.L.A.Y. stands for Playground Leader Activities for Youth. “We try to do positive things in the school. We noticed there was some bullying on the playground, and this was an avenue for kids to get involved in a positive way,” says Wickwire Vice-Principal Terry Stewart.

Twenty-seven students from the Grade 6 classes were trained in positive leadership and how to organize games. Each day, two of the students go out during the Grade 2-3 lunch hour to play games and keep them active. “We started it last year with great success,” says Stewart. He adds they play anything from tag games to refereeing soccer. “Just a wide range of games to get kids more actively involved on the playground.”

Gareth Steele, one of the students involved with the program says their teachers picked him and other students for the program. “Our teachers chose responsible people from the class, and you had a choice if you wanted to do it or not,” he says.

At the time the program was just starting for this school year, and it was the first lunchtime he was organizing. Steele says it was fun and adds, “It’s an extra half hour off school, so that’s good too.”

The program has three main goals. One is to increase physical activity with a variety of games.

The second is to reduce bullying on the playground. According to Dr. Debra Pepler, a psychologist from the University of Manitoba, if children are bored, there are many opportunities for them to bully others. Organized and fun activities can decrease the chances of that happening.

The third goal is to provide leadership opportunities for students, increasing self-esteem, problem-solving skills, and organization.

The program also received some of its funding through a grant from the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, which was used to buy equipment for the students to use.

Even in the first few weeks of the program staff have noticed a change in the students. “Staff in general have seen a good change in how the students are interacting,” says Stewart.