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There was some provision for play at school at the elementary (primary) school level. This was primarily at morning recess, the most popular time of the day for most children, and during the lunch break. Ideas about both play and recess have changed over time. Many schools at first had exercise and drill rather than free play, we suspect city schools (19th century). The children played all sorts of games including ring games and free form gameslike tags. Sport at the time was just beginning to capture the imagination of children, mostly boys even by the end of the century. Gradually the children even in city schools were allowed to play on their own outdoors. Sports by the 20th century had become important for school age children. Baseball was the 'Mational Passtime'. Baseball skills for younger boys are beyond their capabilities, so instead kickball became a playground favorite as did dodgeball. Here the girls did not generally paticipate. Girls did commonly participate in games, but were less likely to participate in sports. Favotite activities varied over time and depending on the school facilities. Urban schools had play grounds, often paved areas which made for hard falls. Normally the boys and girls divided up as they had very different ideas about recreation. In recent years idead about political correctness have restriced school favorites like dodge ball and tag. On rainy days the children had to make do in their classrooms. Here the teachers had to use a little imagination to provide interesting activities. We note the Johnston School in 1919.
There was some provision for play at school at the elementary (primary) school level. This was primarily at morning recess, the most popular time of the day for most children, and during the lunch break.
Ideas about both play and recess have changed over time. Many schools at first had exercise and drill rather than free pla. This was the case in many city schools (19th century). Rural schools were more informally run. And female schoolmarms were less inteested in drill. Gradually play began to be seen as helpful for children. Oudoor play helped to develop physical coordination, strength, and flexibility. Play activities also provide recreation and enjoyment as well as supported social and emotional development.
The children played all sorts of games including ring games and free form games like tags. Sport at the time was just beginning to capture the imagination of children, mostly boys even by the end of the century. Gradually the children even in city schools were allowed to play on their own outdoors. Sports by the 20th century had become important for school age children. Baseball was the 'Mational Passtime'. Baseball skills for younger boys are beyond their capabilities, so instead kickball became a playground favorite as did dodgeball. Favorite activities varied over time. Girls favored games. Some games attrcted the boys like tug-of-war pictured here. Oyher gmes were of less interest like the ring games the girls and younger boys enjoyed. Boys as they got older favored sports which afterr the miid-129th century began to become popular. This depended a lot on the school on the type of school. Many schools in the 19th century were small rural schools. Many of these schools had plentyy of space, but did not have enough boys to play sport. City schools generrally had playyards and enough boys that sports could be played. Sports gebnerally involved skills thast the younger boys had not yet mastered. One sollution was kickball--basically base bal but using aickrd ball rather than a ball and bat. Guirls rarely participted, at least in the 19590s when I was at school. This mAy be a little different today. As secondary schools began to become important, gym began to become important. A new sport was even developed for indoor winter play--basketball.
Commonly the boys and girls divided up as they had very different ideas about recreation. The girls did not generally paticipate in rough gmes. Girls might commonly participate in more sedate games, but were less interested in sports, expecially in the 19th and early-20th century.
Activities depended to an extent on the school facilities. Urban schools had far more facilities. They commonly had developed play grounds with equipment like sea-saws, jungle gym,s and monkey bars. As city schools developed we begin to see paved areas, meaning no mud. Many rural schools had no developed plsygrounds, but not all. With a little effort, low cost play ground equipment could be built. And there tended to be more ground around country schools for games and sports, provided there were enough children. Paved play grounds had advantages, but also made for hard falls. One very great improvment has been to develop playground surfaces that are safe for children playing. In recent years ideas about political correctness have restriced school favorites like dodge ball and tag. This has varied from school to school. Many schools today have modern playgroundswith all kinds of recreational equipment. Seesaw, merry-go-rounds, swingsets, slides, jungle gyms, chin-up bars, and sandboxes are fairly standard. We now see spring riders, trapeze rings, playhouses, mazes, and much more.
On rainy days the children had to make do in their classrooms. Here the teachers had to use a little imagination to provide interesting activities. We note the Johnston School in 1919.
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