MHiPS
Understanding Playground Play: Supporting Growth Through Break Times
At our school, break times are rich, active, and joyful parts of the day where children explore, connect, and grow through play. While it may look like “just fun,” every type of play supports important social, emotional, and physical development.
Active Play: Building Energy, Health, and Social Skills
Many children enjoy energetic games such as tiggy, footy, or classic imaginative chase games like cops and robbers. These games help children:
- Develop coordination, strength, and overall fitness
- Practise teamwork, turn-taking, and negotiation
- Learn to manage competition, winning, and losing
Active play is vital for children’s wellbeing, helping them release energy and return to class ready to learn.
Imaginative Play: Creativity in Action
Our playground buzzes with imagination. Whether children are building storylines in small groups or exploring the fairy garden, imaginative play allows them to:
- Create and act out stories
- Experiment with roles and different perspectives
- Strengthen communication and collaboration skills
Spaces like our new fairy garden offer opportunities for storytelling, wonder, and creative exploration, particularly appealing to children who enjoy quieter, imaginative experiences.
Constructive Play: Thinking, Building, Creating
We’re proud to offer large outdoor mats with LEGO and Magna-Tiles, where children can design, build, and problem-solve together. These spaces support:
- Spatial awareness and engineering thinking
- Persistence and resilience
- Collaborative building and idea sharing
- Recharge emotionally and physically
- Engage in calm activities
- Connect with friends in a low-pressure way
Not all children want high-energy play all the time, and that’s perfectly okay. Quiet play areas allow children to be socially active without the hustle and bustle of the schoolyard.
Supported Play: Led by Our Wellbeing Wizards
Our Wellbeing Wizards play a special role in enriching break times by offering a range of engaging activities such as:
- Bubbles
- Giant Jenga
- Quoits and hoops
These activities provide structured yet flexible options for children who may need support joining in or trying something new. They help foster inclusion and positive social interactions across year levels.
Student Leadership and Responsibility
Our Level 6 leaders do a fantastic job running the sports equipment borrowing system. They help distribute items such as:
- Skipping ropes
- Vortex balls
- Hula hoops
This not only increases play opportunities but also builds leadership, responsibility, and community spirit among our senior students.
Why It Matters
Play is more than just a break—it’s a vital part of child development. By offering a wide range of play opportunities, we ensure every child can find something they enjoy, whether that’s running, building, imagining, or relaxing.
Our goal is to create a playground that is inclusive, engaging, and supportive, where all children feel connected and confident.
Melissa McLeod
Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader