Ask any elementary-aged child what their favorite part of school is – without question you will get a large number of children that respond with “lunch and recess!” And who can blame them – a time for connecting with friends, running around, letting lose a few cheerful (or bloodcurdling) screams.

At Mount Pleasant Elementary School we recognized two things – one, that recess time is one that kids love and two, we wondered how can we make it better – how can we ensure that we are getting the most out of the opportunity? We asked ourselves, what and how can we make recess better for all children?

Beginning in late winter 2020, we were fortunate to partner with Playworks New England to answer that very question. For 25 years, Playworks has helped schools figure out what works well on their playgrounds. They help schools and districts make the most of recess through consultative support, professional development, and online resources. Our culture and philosophy at Mount Pleasant is in sync with that of Playworks: playtime is kids’ time. But as a school, we can and should create play environments that help kids be their best because recess matters: a thoughtful approach to recess improves children’s physical health and social and emotional learning.

We started by having approximately 20 then 4th graders, now 5th graders, and our staff trained in the understanding and facilitation of the Playworks program. A few of the focus areas Playworks helps schools address are: safety, engagement, and empowerment – with the most powerful aspect of our training being the Junior Coach program.

The youth-led Junior Coach program is the bridge that takes all the tools adults have for creating safe and inclusive spaces and passes them on to our students. Junior Coaches receive training in how to utilize and encourage basic conflict resolution tools like Rock Paper Scissors, how to use their assertive voices to help solve problems, and how to facilitate a game effectively to get other students engaged and active quickly. These students may have less life experience, but they often have deeper insights into the needs and happenings on the playground.

In addition to the positive impacts Junior Coaches have on their school climate, these students also benefit from participation. In looking at the most recent year of data from Playworks across all the schools they work with, Junior Coaches reported statistically significant positive change on all 14 SEL (social emotional learning) competencies they were asked to assess. Top gains were in empathy, with 88% of students reporting improvement, but academic motivation was close behind with 87% of students reporting improvement. As part of the program, Junior Coaches find a new way to use their skills to benefit their community and a new sense of belonging in school.

We could not be any more proud of the work of our 5th grade Junior Coaches. They have helped create a recess atmosphere that is inclusive and engaging, allowing every student an opportunity to play – and learn a little something about themselves and their classmates in the process.

Richard Boardman is principal at Mount Pleasant Elementary School. He may be reached at boardmanr@nashua.edu.