No More Tag At Recess?!!?

Rating: 5 after 2 votes

I couldn’t believe my ears when my son told me that no longer are kids allowed to play tag during recess at his school! No More TAG? Are they nuts? I asked him why? His answer, he was told by the yard coach it was due to possible lawsuits if a kid gets injured. I was, shall we say, not too happy!

Hey, I understand about lawsuits. (I AM from L.A., for heavens sake!) But to take away the one playground game that’s been around ever since kids were in school because some kid might fall and get hurt and…gasp…sue the school?

I then asked my son, well, aren’t you allowed to play on the monkey bars? Aren’t they just as dangerous if not more so? He told me that they were only allowed to swing on the bar, but they weren’t allowed to climb on the bars. So then I asked him, “What do you do at recess”. His answer: “Well mom, there isn’t much we’re allowed to do, so we just sit and talk”.

Recess should be for the kids to get their pent up energy out. To be able to run around, play tag, jump on the jungle gym, and yes..if they would like to sit and talk that too. I’m sorry, but to take tag away? Crazy.

So here’s what I’m thinking, the only way to get the game of tag back into the school yards where it belongs is to have every parent sign a waiver before the beginning of the school year. I’d sign on!

Thoughts?
Judi
http://www.lipsticknlaundry.com/

Tags: games, kids, playground, recess, rules, school, teachers

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Melinda on March 4, 2009 at 8:11am: I would sign it too. getting hurt is part of being a child. scraped knees and bruises are all party of growing up.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amanda on March 4, 2009 at 9:50am: It is like that commercial where the baby is in the bubble! Kids are going to get hurt, no matter what. They can trip over their own 2 feet and get just as hurt. They need to run! It gets out frustration in a healthy way! it is not like they are playing tackle football with no pads. Crazy!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly Segraves on March 4, 2009 at 11:05am: I agree with you, Judi. I'd be upset too. I would definitely sign it! They need to get out their energy and run. Soon they'll be eliminating recess all together.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Judi on March 4, 2009 at 3:07pm: Thank you! I thought to myself "Am I nuts or something?" I feel better, thanks guys! I HAVE seen that commercial Amanda, and when you brought it up it made me giggle!!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Courtney on March 4, 2009 at 4:01pm: I'd sign on to! It's so silly!
www.loopeez.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Hernandez on March 5, 2009 at 6:45am: They put the "no tag" rule into effect at my daughter's school a couple of weeks ago. She was none too pleased!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Judi on March 5, 2009 at 7:41am: It's just insane!!! As Dale was saying, many schools are taking out Phys Ed., in a time in history when..for the FIRST TIME children are having more weight problems than their parents!!! These kids NEED activity!!!

John Hernandez said:
They put the "no tag" rule into effect at my daughter's school a couple of weeks ago. She was none too pleased!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jo-Ann Colburn on March 5, 2009 at 9:31am: We have the same problem here. The kids are not allowed to run on the blacktop. Someone might skin a knee... The basketball hoops are on the blacktop. So the kids have to walk the ball up and down the court?? I just seems ridiculous to me. They are ruining recess.

I'm not sure what the solution is. They don't want the waver here because the kids whose parents won't sign will be singled out because they will not be able to play with the kids whose parents sign.

I'm at a loss.

Jo-Ann; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jen Dwyer on March 5, 2009 at 9:57am: It's really ridiculous, people need to get a grip! There are also schools around here that have implemented "nutrition boards" and won't let kids eat things in class they deem unhealthy, teachers can't even give out a piece of candy to their kids anymore, I'm not joking! All of this sends a terrible message to kids if you ask me.

Over protectiveness has reached an all time high, I feel bad for kids...because they can't even be kids anymore!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Judi on March 5, 2009 at 11:03am: Walk the ball up and down the court???? unbelievable!!! That's not even basketball! I fondly remember my skinned knees as a kid, and they were like my badges of honor!

Jo-Ann Colburn said:
We have the same problem here. The kids are not allowed to run on the blacktop. Someone might skin a knee... The basketball hoops are on the blacktop. So the kids have to walk the ball up and down the court?? I just seems ridiculous to me. They are ruining recess.

I'm not sure what the solution is. They don't want the waver here because the kids whose parents won't sign will be singled out because they will not be able to play with the kids whose parents sign.

I'm at a loss.

Jo-Ann; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Judi on March 5, 2009 at 11:05am: Boy, I hope they don't start that too at our school! They've already taken away Halloween parties (some kids "don't celebrate"! ), but at least they still let the kids bring in cupcakes for birthdays.

Jen Dwyer said:
It's really ridiculous, people need to get a grip! There are also schools around here that have implemented "nutrition boards" and won't let kids eat things in class they deem unhealthy, teachers can't even give out a piece of candy to their kids anymore, I'm not joking! All of this sends a terrible message to kids if you ask me.

Over protectiveness has reached an all time high, I feel bad for kids...because they can't even be kids anymore!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patti Lekas on March 6, 2009 at 8:17am: This is really getting out of hand. They banded ties in hooded sweatshirts and things that Moms used to just decide on for themselves. Legislate common sense?; ▶ Reply to This