Difference between playgrounds and natural play spaces for school
There is not much a difference between playgrounds and play spaces. Rather one must develop an eye for precision in order to depict the differences between the two. A playground is a place especially designed...Read more
Lessons from Flanders: school traffic safety in four steps
The Belgian municipality of Hoogstraten is making primary school routes safer. The municipality won the Flemish Road Safety Award 2019 last month and they are in the process of redesigning the area around eight schools....Read more
6 Tips on implementing and promoting healthy movement in your classroom
Children have been experiencing a decline in physical activity in recent years. At school they are mostly seated, someone is always driving them home and at home – between homework and time spent with various...Read more
The importance a child’s middle years
Far from being a quiet time, a child’s middle years – between ages eight and 12 – can be transformative. But according to Dr Lisa Mundy, we need to better understand those changes. I’ve always been...Read more
Kindergartners get little time to play. Why does it matter?
Being a kindergartner today is very different from being a kindergartner 20 years ago. In fact it is more like first grade. Researchers have demonstrated that five-year-olds are spending more time engaged in teacher-led academic learning...Read more
What does a great teacher look like?
Teachers with a strong belief in their own ability to ‘get the job done’ have the biggest impact on a student’s learning. It’s well-known that teachers have the biggest influence on student learning over any other...Read more
Why is school connectedness so important?
If students feel disconnected from school, their learning and even their health can suffer – new research shows how teachers can help. Most of us have memories of our days at school; usually some good and...Read more
A community effort to redesign a school playground
Daniela Gaspoz is a mother of four kids and an urban planner. In this article, for Child in the City, she reflects on her initiative and journey as a parent counselor to help transform her...Read more
Low-scoring schools in Florida make their days longer
Camille Watkins’ day as a fourth grade teacher got a little longer last year. The elementary school where she taught had been named one of Florida’s 300 lowest-performing schools. It meant the school was required...Read more
Mobile phones now banned in French schools
The start of the new school year in France has brought with it a ban on mobile phones during school hours. It affects children in primary school and those aged 11-15. This new ruling leaves children...Read more
Why don’t Australian school kids feel a sense of belonging?
Respectful and valued relationships with teachers and the wider community are key to helping more students feel greater connection to their school, leading to far-reaching positive effects. The sense of belonging Australian students feel at school has...Read more
Green goes to school – the participatory approach
In the last thirty years, a lot of schoolyards in Berlin have changed their aspect, becoming places where children can spend their free time in a beneficial way, developing their confidence and self-esteem without the...Read more
Play through the eyes of a child – Part three
Being able to play in schools has great value for a child, although what do they actually gain from interacting and how do they play in this kind of environment? Why is this of particular...Read more