Parents have a lot on their checklist while looking for schools for children. The board of education, environment and amenities become their top priorities but sports and associated facilities are not given enough importance.
An area of 1200 sq feet is considered to be the minimum space required for children to be able to run and play freely. There is no upper limit for playgrounds and this is where the situation is changing.
Schools are putting focus on building stamina of students and thus, are stressing importance on playgrounds to allow abundant recreational activities. The information below will convince you about the parameters parents should consider while searching for a school with a playground.
6 traits to look for in a school with a playground
1. Number of students
The area of the playground depends on the r classroom strength and age of students. A primary school will have children studying till 8th grade. Their agility, energy level and physical requirements will be less than that of a higher secondary student who will need a bigger space to play exhaustive games such as cricket and football.
Ideally, parents should choose a school with a playground big enough to accommodate students from multiple classes.
2. Size of the school
How big is the school? Often, a good classroom strength does not explain if the school has capacity to make space for a playground. With increase in population and space crunch, many schools can’t afford to leave space idle for playgrounds.
However, a school present across a vast expanse of land can have prominent space available for a playground.
3. Attitude of school towards sports
Parents should look for a physical education department in the school. Making participation in sports compulsory for all children is a good sign as children will stop feeling lethargic in school and at home.
An energized mind will thus increase attention span and concentration power of children. Since difficulty levels of sports increase as children grow up, coaches should be able to train children in different forms of sports. This is where a spacious and dynamic playground is needed.
4. Balance between academics and recreational activities
Specialising in conventional education is the end goal for many parents and almost all school authorities. However, some children love sports and thus, need a bigger playground to hone their skills much more frequently than their classmates.
They’d also benefit if the school encourages them to become professional sportspersons in future by helping them participate in sports tournaments. Such progressive schools must have a decent playground.
5. Attention towards healthcare
Often, pressure of academics forces students to skip playtime and study to get better at every examination. Neglecting playtime manifests as lethargy, depression and poor attendance in class.
A physically active student, who indulges in a lot of outdoor sports, excels in studies, stays healthy and also becomes regular in school. Sports directly improves health of children. Parents should think beyond first aid facilities in a school and look for a playground that ensures long-term health benefits of children.
6. Willingness to include sports in curriculum
Schools usually keep sports as an extracurricular activity, which makes participation and excellence in sports optional. Some schools are changing this thought process by grading and evaluating students in sports. Their results are now dependent on a good grade in physical education. Such schools can’t function without a busy playground.
These are the reasons why your children should be admitted to a school with a huge playground. If school authorities can manage space for grueling morning assemblies that tire children before they start their day, they can also make space for playgrounds that help build strength and stamina.