‘Risky’ school playgrounds increase children’s happiness
- ‘Rough and tumble’ makes children play with others and report bullying less
- Adventurous playgrounds mean children are pushed more, but don’t complain
- From a teachers’ perspective bullying is higher, but not according to children
Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline
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‘Risky’ school playgrounds increase children’s happiness.
Youngsters who spend their lunch break in areas with a bit of ‘rough and tumble’ are more likely to play with other children and less likely to complain of being bullied.
Yet, from a teachers perspective, more adventurous playgrounds are linked with students being picked on.
Adventurous playgrounds make children feel happier and more likely toplay with their peers
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JUST 10 MINUTES OF PLAY REDUCES A CHILD’S RISK OF DISEASE
Just 10 minutes of playing every day can reduce a child’s risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke in later life.
Researchers from Wake Forest University, North Carolina, found replacing light-intensity physical activity with brief periods of vigorous exercise may provide significant health benefits in children.
Children with large waist measurements and elevated insulin levels could benefit most.
Researchers from the University of Otago, New Zealand, asked eight schools not to change their playgrounds, while another eight increased the element of ‘risk’ in their outdoor areas.
Risks included having more physically vigorous activities, less rules and increasing the number of ‘loose parts’ in the area, such as tires.
After one and two years, 840 children, 635 parents and 90 teachers completed bullying questionnaires.
Children in more risky environments reported being happier at school and playing with more children.
While those with a more adventurous lunch break were found to pushed more, they were less likely to tell a teacher.
Reports of bullying from parents and children were the same across both playground environments.
Yet, teachers at schools with more risky playgrounds noted greater bullying.
The researchers said: ‘Few negative outcomes were reported by children or parents, except for greater pushing in intervention schools.
‘Whether this indicates increased resilience as indicated by lower reporting of bullying to teachers may be an unanticipated benefit.’
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