Answer Sheet

Why kids are getting more aggressive on the playground

By By Valerie StraussValerie Strauss March 29March 29

Here is a new piece from pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom, who has written someHere is a new piece from pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom, who has written some

popular posts, including popular posts, including Why so many kids cant sit still in school today,Why so many kids cant sit still in school today, as well as as well as The right The right

and surprisingly wrong ways to get kids to sit still in classand surprisingly wrong ways to get kids to sit still in class and and A therapist goes to middle schoolA therapist goes to middle school

and tries to sit still. She cant. Neither can the kidsand tries to sit still. She cant. Neither can the kids. Here is the fifth in her occasional series on. Here is the fifth in her occasional series on

movement in classrooms. Hanscom is the founder of movement in classrooms. Hanscom is the founder of TimberNook,TimberNook, a nature-based development a nature-based development

program designed to foster creativity and independent play outdoors in New England.program designed to foster creativity and independent play outdoors in New England.

By Angela HanscomBy Angela Hanscom

Taga simple game of tag. Seems innocent enough. But is it? Not according to many teachers.Taga simple game of tag. Seems innocent enough. But is it? Not according to many teachers.

Kids are starting to hit with such force that they often end up whacking their opponent across theKids are starting to hit with such force that they often end up whacking their opponent across the

back in a monstrous slap. Ive seen this myself many times. Ouch! one kid cries, now on theirback in a monstrous slap. Ive seen this myself many times. Ouch! one kid cries, now on their

hands and knees and fighting off tears. Dont hit so hard! they yell up at the child standing overhands and knees and fighting off tears. Dont hit so hard! they yell up at the child standing over

them. Often, you hear the other child whine, I didnt mean too Many times the act seemsthem. Often, you hear the other child whine, I didnt mean too Many times the act seems

unintentional, although painful for the victim nonetheless. Tag is now becoming such an issue thatunintentional, although painful for the victim nonetheless. Tag is now becoming such an issue that

schools are starting to ban this once beloved game.schools are starting to ban this once beloved game.

In the fall of 2013, the problem of banning the childhood game hit a little too close to home. At aIn the fall of 2013, the problem of banning the childhood game hit a little too close to home. At a

local New Hampshire school, tag was no longer a reality for many children. A classic game that waslocal New Hampshire school, tag was no longer a reality for many children. A classic game that was

cherished through the ages was dismissed due to safety concerns. Parents and children werecherished through the ages was dismissed due to safety concerns. Parents and children were

confused and some were outraged. Headlines stated everything from, Banning Tag is Dumb toconfused and some were outraged. Headlines stated everything from, Banning Tag is Dumb to

More Schools Banning Tag because of Injuries. Curious, I started interviewing teachers in MaineMore Schools Banning Tag because of Injuries. Curious, I started interviewing teachers in Maine

and New Hampshire about what they were seeing at recess time.and New Hampshire about what they were seeing at recess time.

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One teacher said, Kids are becoming more aggressive. When they play games like tag, they pushOne teacher said, Kids are becoming more aggressive. When they play games like tag, they push

with great force, often hurting the other child. We had to implement a two-finger touch rule, sowith great force, often hurting the other child. We had to implement a two-finger touch rule, so

that kids couldnt push so hard. Another teacher that had been around for 30 years, saidshe hadthat kids couldnt push so hard. Another teacher that had been around for 30 years, saidshe had

seen an increase in aggressive behavior as well. They cant seem to keep their hands off each other!seen an increase in aggressive behavior as well. They cant seem to keep their hands off each other!

Kids are always getting hurt. A local principal stated that tag had become such a problem that theyKids are always getting hurt. A local principal stated that tag had become such a problem that they

had to get creative. They gave the children foam noodles to tag the other children with and avoidhad to get creative. They gave the children foam noodles to tag the other children with and avoid

actual contact with the hands.actual contact with the hands.

The problem? Due to less time in active play these days, children are not developing the senses inThe problem? Due to less time in active play these days, children are not developing the senses in

their joints and muscles (proprioceptive sense) like they used to. In the past, it was more commontheir joints and muscles (proprioceptive sense) like they used to. In the past, it was more common

for children to help with the outdoor chores. They would assist with raking leaves, shoveling thefor children to help with the outdoor chores. They would assist with raking leaves, shoveling the

snow, and would even earn money by mowing lawns in their neighborhood. Theyd also play forsnow, and would even earn money by mowing lawns in their neighborhood. Theyd also play for

hours outside moving heavy rocks to build a dam, scaling trees to new heights, and digging moatshours outside moving heavy rocks to build a dam, scaling trees to new heights, and digging moats

in the dirt. All of this heavy work helped children to develop a strong and healthy proprioceptivein the dirt. All of this heavy work helped children to develop a strong and healthy proprioceptive

system.system.

[Why so many kids cant sit still in school today][Why so many kids cant sit still in school today]

Pediatric occupational therapists often prescribe heavy work to young children who have troublePediatric occupational therapists often prescribe heavy work to young children who have trouble

with their proprioceptive sense. This usually consists of anything that gives weighted input to thewith their proprioceptive sense. This usually consists of anything that gives weighted input to the

joints and muscles, such as pulling a wagon that is loaded with bricks, carrying grocery bags, andjoints and muscles, such as pulling a wagon that is loaded with bricks, carrying grocery bags, and

digging in the garden. These are things that children would be naturally getting if they spent adigging in the garden. These are things that children would be naturally getting if they spent a

considerable amount of time outside.considerable amount of time outside.

Due to the busy schedules of today, children often dont have hours to explore the outdoors, to helpDue to the busy schedules of today, children often dont have hours to explore the outdoors, to help

with the outside chores, or even do small jobs that require manual labor. Therefore, many childrenwith the outside chores, or even do small jobs that require manual labor. Therefore, many children

dont have the same opportunities to fully develop and fine-tune the senses in the joints anddont have the same opportunities to fully develop and fine-tune the senses in the joints and

muscles. As a result, more and more children are starting to have trouble regulating how much forcemuscles. As a result, more and more children are starting to have trouble regulating how much force

to use when pushing and pulling and even interacting with the objects and people around them.to use when pushing and pulling and even interacting with the objects and people around them.

This is why we are seeing children hit with too much force during a game of tag. Their senses areThis is why we are seeing children hit with too much force during a game of tag. Their senses are

not quite working right all because they are not engaged in an adequate amount of active play andnot quite working right all because they are not engaged in an adequate amount of active play and

movement on a regular basis.movement on a regular basis.

What do the adults do?What do the adults do?

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When we see a problem with a game of tag or any other game for that reason we take it away.When we see a problem with a game of tag or any other game for that reason we take it away.

Understandably, we dont want children to get hurt. However, before we go and start banningUnderstandably, we dont want children to get hurt. However, before we go and start banning

everything, we should really try to understand everything, we should really try to understand whywhy this is happening. this is happening.

If children are getting more aggressive on a larger scale there has got to be a good reason for it. ItIf children are getting more aggressive on a larger scale there has got to be a good reason for it. It

isnt necessarily because children have become incompetent of playing games safely or even thatisnt necessarily because children have become incompetent of playing games safely or even that

they are becoming mean-spirited. There is actually a biological reason for it. Our job as the adults isthey are becoming mean-spirited. There is actually a biological reason for it. Our job as the adults is

to seek that knowledge and to fix the underlying problem.to seek that knowledge and to fix the underlying problem.

Taking away tag is like putting a Band-aid over a deeper issue. Lets fix the deeperTaking away tag is like putting a Band-aid over a deeper issue. Lets fix the deeper

issue.issue.

You may also be interested in:You may also be interested in:

Why so many kids cant sit still in school todayWhy so many kids cant sit still in school today

The right and surprisingly wrong ways to get kids to sit still in classThe right and surprisingly wrong ways to get kids to sit still in class

A therapist goes to middle school and tries to sit still. She cant. Neither can the kidsA therapist goes to middle school and tries to sit still. She cant. Neither can the kids..

How schools ruined recess and four things needed to fix itHow schools ruined recess and four things needed to fix it

Valerie Strauss covers education and runs The Answer Sheet blog.Valerie Strauss covers education and runs The Answer Sheet blog.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/07/08/why-so-many-kids-cant-sit-still-in-school-today/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/10/07/the-right-and-surprisingly-wrong-ways-to-get-kids-to-sit-still-in-class/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/10/07/the-right-and-surprisingly-wrong-ways-to-get-kids-to-sit-still-in-class/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/02/04/how-schools-ruined-recess-and-four-things-needed-to-fix-it/http://www.washingtonpost.com/people/valerie-strauss

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