School counsellors are a vital resource and advocate for a child’s physical and mental growth. From a young age, children and parents turn to counselors to ask for guidance and receive help on numerous scenarios. A parent of a child who is falling behind in class may speak with the counselor about how to get additional help outside of the classroom. A guardian of a child who is having social anxiety during lunchtime will brainstorm with the counsellor on ways to help them find a lunch buddy and lessen their worries. 

As a result, counsellors are always looking out for how they can best champion students and provide them with the resources they need to succeed. In some instances, this may be buying new textbooks or adding new curriculum to the schedule. And in other ways, it may be becoming a proponent of adding a new addition to the school, such as a revamped playground. 

Mental health

A child’s mental health directly impacts how they behave and perform. Inside the classroom, a child dealing with mental health issues may be more reserved and less likely to make friends. This can heighten social anxieties, leading to stress and poor communication habits. Since the pandemic, there has been an increasing interest in helping children with their mental health, both at home and in the classroom. 

For school counsellors, advocating and addressing mental health means fostering a supportive learning environment. If children feel unsafe at school, they will not perform as well. If they show up feeling depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, they may become disconnected and retaliate. 

One way to foster a better social environment is through the promotion of unstructured play. Playgrounds give children the space to be themselves. They can run freely, hop from one piece of playground equipment to another, and exert some pent-up energy. This type of play can improve their mood and stimulate the release of endorphins. These “feel-good” chemicals lift a child’s overall mood and improve their well-being. 

Play also encourages mindfulness, meaning they are focused on navigating through a challenging rope course or challenging themselves to go down the steep slide. Incorporating unstructured play requires children to use the creative parts of their brain and can spark their imaginations, too. These repetitive habits can improve their sense of self and boost their confidence levels – two components which can also improve their mental health and well-being. 

Social development

Correlated to mental health is social development, or how children learn to interact and navigate social situations. Social development begins in infancy and continues throughout adulthood; however, the most significant stages happen during elementary years and early adolescence. Skills such as cooperation, empathy, and conflict resolution are learned in addition to proper communication and overall behavior among others. 

At school, social development begins when children start to make friends. They may sit next to someone on the school bus who has a shared interest with or two children who are new to the neighbourhood may be paired up during an assignment and become quick pals. These types of interactions are the starting points for lifelong learning in making and keeping friends. 

Counsellors are vested in social development throughout a child’s school years, but particularly during those primary years when recess is considered to be a foundational practice. Playgrounds are a learning opportunity for social development. By playing in an unstructured way with others, children must learn how to share and speak nicely to one another. They will need to cooperate and problem-solve in order for everyone to have fun and enjoy themselves. 

While disagreements and arguing are common in play, they are teachable moments. A stubborn child won’t have anyone to play with unless they give in and allow others to take a turn on the swingset. These learnings are part of social development, and a huge reason why counsellors are continuing to advocate for playgrounds.     

Improved academic performance 

Since the main purpose of school is to learn, it only makes sense that counsellors are looking for opportunities to enhance learning and improve overall performance. While assigning new textbooks or adding curriculum can be worthwhile, so can incorporating other types of learning. Not only does unstructured play help with mental health and social development, but it can also improve focus and enhance cognitive skills. 

For any child, sitting for lengthy periods can be nothing short of excruciating! Kids are eager to move their bodies. With overcrowded classes and limited space, classrooms are always set up to accommodate these needs. During recess, children can be themselves and literally run freely. When they return to class, they will likely be able to better manage their energy and also focus more on the lesson or task at hand. 

In terms of cognitive development, play also helps with critical thinking skills. Children will need to think strategically and adapt accordingly. For instance, deciding the best route to navigate through a maze or get to the top of a climbing structure requires certain thinking skills. It also requires spatial awareness and learning just how much distance is needed to jump to the next climbing structure to avoid a fall. 

Takeaway

School counsellors recognise the important role of play in a child’s overall physical and mental development. From improving their mood and well-being to teaching crucial social skills to enhancing their academic performance, unstructured play on playgrounds can have numerous advantages for a child’s overall growth.

Ellen Diamond, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.