HAVE children lost the ability to play?

One source of problems encountered with youngsters today, it has been argued, is the disappearance of traditional games from the playground, and the emergence of solitary pursuits like computer games.

Look in many school playgrounds at break times and there's often a distinct lack of activities, with children standing around in groups.

One local school to take positive steps back to playtime is Gilnow County Primary School which has targeted funds towards both wet and dry play equipment for every class to use. Staff and dinner supervisors encourage the children to play in areas that are controlled "so reducing, we hope, the number of bumps caused by a less structured recreation time at school", said deputy head George Hadfield.

The equipment is for infant and junior pupils and, he added: "There is a strong emphasis on enjoyment in sharing and playing together."

Developments planned for the near future at Gilnow include the playground marking of grids and games, to be used with staff support in games lessons. Then the children will be encouraged to use the markings at playtime themselves. The school believes firmly in providing children with opportunities to develop, take responsibility and justify trust put in them. Play also encourages good social behaviour.

So far, Gilnow reports a "resounding success" to the scheme to bring back traditional play in school.

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