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The Hall of Shame

by Rae Pica

Is fun reason enough to play games? Sure. But parents can choose games not only because they’re fun, but also because they have something to teach. We may not initially think of games in terms of learning for children, but children learn from all their experiences. It’s up to us to decide what we’d like them to learn from the games we play with them: things like self-confidence, problem solving, cooperation, trust, and motor skills, or rejection, failure, and embarrassment.

Neil Williams, DEd, is the creator of The Physical Education Hall of Shame, a list of childhood games he considers inappropriate for physical education classes. Games that make this list share some of the following problems:

• Absence of the purported objective of the activity or game.
• Potential to embarrass a child in front of the rest of the class.
• Focus on eliminating children from participation.
• Extremely low participation time.
• Extremely high likelihood for danger, injury, and harm.

Williams says, “As professionals, we must reexamine our practices and programs and think critically about what, how, and why we are teaching the children in our care.” I would argue that the same holds true for parents.

Currently, the Hall of Shame includes: 

• Dodgeball
• Duck, Duck, Goose
• Messy Backyard
• Kickball
• Musical Chairs
• Relay Races
• Steal the Bacon
• Line Soccer
• Red Rover
• Simon Says
• Spud
• Tag 

Games are wonderful teaching tools for children. But what are they learning when they’re battling (literally) to stay in the game or sitting miserably against a wall?

If you’re a reader of this column, you know there are simple ways to modify any game to make it more meaningful for children. For example, Messy Backyard is typically played with regular playground balls or wads of paper; but both of those can hurt if they accidentally hit a child. Chiffon scarves are much more difficult to throw for distance, but they’ll require a lot more muscle power. To play this game with a group of children, give each child a scarf, and make a line with masking tape, chalk, or a jump rope. Then divide the children into two groups – one on each side of the line.

Place an equal number of scarves on either side of the line. Set the timer. At your signal, the children race to pick up scarves on their side of the line and throw them onto the other side of the line. When time is up (say, two minutes), count the number of scarves on each side. Then divide them equally and start all over again!

Rae Pica is a children’s physical activity specialist and the author of A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity, and Free Time Create a Successful Child (Da Capo Press, 2006) and Great Games for Young Children (Gryphon House, 2006). She has shared her expertise with such clients as the Sesame Street Research Department, the Centers for Disease Control, Gymboree Play & Music, and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. She is also co-creator and host of "Body, Mind and Child," a radio program in which she interviews experts in the fields of early childhood education, child development, the neurosciences, and more. Listen at www.bodymindandchild.com.

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