TV and inside recess

[Anonymous]

Are there any schools that don't have TV during recess or other downtime? Or that go outside when the weather isn't 75 degrees without a cloud in the sky? I realize I'm old and crotchety and its probably not a big deal in the larger scheme of things, but I was wondering if there were any in the region that still hold space for regular play/hang out time. I searched the forum and saw this had been complained about, but I couldn't find any specific examples to the contrary.

[Anonymous]

The issue is supervision. Once kids are inside they often put two classes (approx. 50-60 kids) in one classroom making any kind of play very difficult.

[Anonymous]

Our school has in the past had TV as an option but also has coloring, board games, other kinds of building blocks/manipulables. It’s a zoo at indoor recess, but I know of one school that went kids out that first hot week of school and had a kid pass out on the playground. Felt better about our principal’s decision to have indoor recess after hearing that.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PP. Just too many kids, and not enough staff. And, no space to put the kids.

When we were kids, we'd get to run around in the gym during indoor recess, but that is no longer possible because the gym is being used every single period at our ES.

And, the APR is being used from 11:30-1:30 due to all the different lunch periods, so also not an option for PE when indoors.

It's pretty terrible, but there's not much you can do. Just another issue caused by an overcrowded school system.

[Anonymous]

PP again

And, yet, there are only 3 recess aides usually at our school for all 5 second grade classes. That means they have to combine two classes worth of kids into one classroom. Impossible to have 55 kids doing jumping jacks in one classroom. Kids are forced to either watch TV or color. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Really? TV?? I'm confused. And OP doesn't want the kids going outside when it's less than optimal weather (defined as 75 & sunny)? So does that mean 45 & sunny?

Our elem school had a policy: 32 degrees or below (including wind chill) = indoor recess. Rain = indoor recess. Otherwise, go outside and move around. People freak that kids aren't moving enough. My kids hated indoor recess.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here (on my lunch break). When it starts getting cold, kids don't come to school properly dressed for the outdoors. As a Title One school, we get coats. gloves and hats for students who need them but then they show up every day without the clothing we gave them. When there are many kids who aren't properly dressed despite our best efforts, kids stay inside. Our KG paras are constantly being pulled to sub at the last minute and they are the ones who supervise recess. If you have one para for 3 classes of 27 and students who aren't dressed warmly, they stay inside and watch a movie. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

I've never heard of a tv on during recess. My kids have always had games, cards, blocks, activities. I wish they were more liberal with outdoor time when it is cold (even 50% of recess outdoor/indoor) but at least they do have down-time and no tv.

[Anonymous]

We also had a lot of complaints about the chaos of indoor recess, and resorting to TV just to keep order. My kid hated indoor recess because it was loud and stressful. Eventually the PTA raised money and got some small grants to assemble indoor recess carts, with board games and art materials, that could be moved from class to class. That seemed to at least give the kids something concrete to do.

Some teachers would use the promethean board to set up little "dance parties," just to get kids moving. But the classrooms were too crowded and the supervision too fragmented to do much more than that. You can't really organize Simon Says with one supervisor floating between several classrooms, and there's not a bigger space available to consolidate.

Ours had the wind-chill-below-freezing cutoff for indoor recess, as well as Code Red air days when it was hot. But trust me, the teachers don't want the kids indoors at recess any more than parents do. Would YOU want to teach 25 kids who haven't been able to move for the last five hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of a tv on during recess. My kids have always had games, cards, blocks, activities. I wish they were more liberal with outdoor time when it is cold (even 50% of recess outdoor/indoor) but at least they do have down-time and no tv.

Are you in MCPS?

The MCPS ES classrooms have a Promethean board in each classroom. It's not a separate TV. So, the aides put something on during indoor recess. Either a movie, or a Magic Schoolhouse. Kids don't have to watch it, but it's on. But, no, it's not a TV, per se. Just the big Promethean board screen. Plus Chromebooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also had a lot of complaints about the chaos of indoor recess, and resorting to TV just to keep order. My kid hated indoor recess because it was loud and stressful. Eventually the PTA raised money and got some small grants to assemble indoor recess carts, with board games and art materials, that could be moved from class to class. That seemed to at least give the kids something concrete to do.

Some teachers would use the promethean board to set up little "dance parties," just to get kids moving. But the classrooms were too crowded and the supervision too fragmented to do much more than that. You can't really organize Simon Says with one supervisor floating between several classrooms, and there's not a bigger space available to consolidate.

Ours had the wind-chill-below-freezing cutoff for indoor recess, as well as Code Red air days when it was hot. But trust me, the teachers don't want the kids indoors at recess any more than parents do. Would YOU want to teach 25 kids who haven't been able to move for the last five hours?

Our cut off is 32 degrees. Agree completely that the teachers dislike indoor recess as much as the parents! And, the kids. But, there's not much they can do.

Like the other PP says, we're at a Focus school, and the kids don't always come to school with appropriate warm weather gear. We have yearly coat drives, and teachers keep coats in the classrooms, but it doesn't always work.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry but it's the parent's fault. They don't dress their children appropriately. It's also a cultural issue. Scandinavian children play outside in the pouring rain. Canadian children play outside in 5 degree weather. Different culture and climate means different expectations.

[Anonymous]

It isnt always the parents fault that the kids aren’t dressed properly. They can’t afford coats. Or, like me, have bought two each season but they still keep getting lost.

Anyway, the overcrowded nature of the schools is the problem. If they could use the gym for dodgeball or soccer or just running laps, it wouldn’t be so bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of a tv on during recess. My kids have always had games, cards, blocks, activities. I wish they were more liberal with outdoor time when it is cold (even 50% of recess outdoor/indoor) but at least they do have down-time and no tv.

Are you in MCPS?

The MCPS ES classrooms have a Promethean board in each classroom. It's not a separate TV. So, the aides put something on during indoor recess. Either a movie, or a Magic Schoolhouse. Kids don't have to watch it, but it's on. But, no, it's not a TV, per se. Just the big Promethean board screen. Plus Chromebooks.

DP here. I'm in MCPS, but when OP says "TV," my mind was focused on specifically that. Yes, I know Promethean board and obv Chromebooks. My kid definitely watched Magic Schoolbus during indoor recess, but not when it was a little chilly or not 100% sunny. Those days... they were outside playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isnt always the parents fault that the kids aren’t dressed properly. They can’t afford coats. Or, like me, have bought two each season but they still keep getting lost.

Anyway, the overcrowded nature of the schools is the problem. If they could use the gym for dodgeball or soccer or just running laps, it wouldn’t be so bad.

Dressing your child for the weather is 100% your responsibility.