Recess Architects
Playocracy is Breaking the Rules Around Recess!
Providing Schools with the Tools and Strategies to Build a Quality Recess Culture.
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Why Become a Recess Architect?
Recess is that time in the school day when children are given independent time to do as they choose (within perimeters). However, many challenges and interpersonal struggles occur during this time.
Research indicates that children have become play-deprived over the last 40-50 years and, therefore, struggle to play cooperatively. There is mounting evidence that shows children who are not given the time for unstructured play:
- lack creativity and problem-solving skills
- demonstrate poor age-appropriate fine and gross motor skill development
- exhibit an increase in mental health issues like depression and anxiety;
- display little or no self-regulation and resiliency when found in a stressful situation.
Given this, it seems rather unfair of adults to expect children to play during a 15-minute recess in a manner believed to be fun and noncontroversial when they have not been given any previous opportunity to practice authentic, unstructured play.
Playocracy has gathered a decade's worth of evidence-based information and research to help schools select the best strategies and opportunities for their school culture.
These have been put in one easy-to-access spot called Recess Architects.
The Recess Architect has reframed recess into three easy-to-manage areas:
Tool Box #1 Designing the Blue Print
We lay the foundation for helping Recess Teams build a sustainable and successful recess culture for the whole school. Recess cannot be considered 15 or 20 minutes spent between two bells. It encapsulates the time before and after those bell times.
Creating and planning strategies that reflect the needs of the school ensures that students return to class ready to learn when the recess bell rings.
Tool Box #2 Building the Infrastructure
We've laid the foundation in Tool Box #1, now we build the recess infrastructure by training staff and students to create a quality recess experience that brings their whole school community together. The training options include:
The L.E.A.D. Recess Program
We have developed the L.E.A.D. Recess Program. This program focuses on developing strong social/emotional skills through play. Student Leaders undergo a comprehensive training program that teaches them to role model positive interpersonal skills and build school community through play.
L.E.A.D. Train the Trainer
Do you have strong staff champions who will be the coaches for the Recess Team? Perhaps your school board/district has a group of staff champions who would like to run this program for all the schools. We can train your team and support them as they work with all the schools.
L.E.A.D. 2.0
The next stage in training your student leaders is to take it up a notch! Our in-depth training takes a deep dive into inclusivity and how we create our own games. This session can be done with individual schools or we can bring several schools together for a mini summit. This has been very successful!
E.A.S.Y. – Engaged Active Supervision for the Yard
Engaged Active Supervision leads to positive recess outcomes. How students come back to class afterward influences their attitude and concentration in the post-recess period. When adult supervisors are purposeful, active, engaging and observant, they demonstrate a genuine understanding of what active supervision is and how it will positively affect students.
We look at three specific areas that support recess supervisors in creating a successful recess for all.
Tool Box #3 Tools of the Trade
Playocracy has created some very unique tools that support children’s creativity and imagination. When these tools are employed appropriately, we practice executive functioning skills, communication and endless social/emotional skills.
Recess is a learning opportunity beyond the classroom walls!
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Contact Us!
Playocracy, Inc.
Tel: (905) 741 3378
Office/Warehouse:
#3-1418 Osprey
Ancaster, Ontario L9G 4V5