School Playgroups and their impact on coexistence between students

Playing at school: an initiative that seeks to protect recess time and the impact it has on school coexistence.

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Lima, Peru Since 2017, the Education and Development Foundation of Spain has promoted the "Jugando en el Cole" project in the network of school playgroups in Peru and Spain, with the aim of promoting spaces for inclusive and free play in schools. This action offers recreational alternatives to boys and girls during playtime, valuing their proposals and ideas to design activities of interest to them. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to defend the right to play and child participation, in line with the rights recognized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically in article 31, which promotes the right to play, and the article 12, which highlights the importance of listening to and taking into account the voice of children in decision-making

The Importance of Promoting Free Play in the Schoolyard

Free play in the schoolyard is essential for the comprehensive development of boys and girls, allowing them to explore their creativity, improve their social skills and strengthen their emotional and physical capacities. However, in many schools, younger children and those who want to explore other games, such as traditional games or construction games, face problems accessing safe spaces, as soccer often dominates the playgrounds. This exclusion affects the quality of school coexistence and restricts the right of students to participate in various recreational activities.

Given this situation, the "Jugando en el Cole" project proposes an integrative solution, proposing diversified spaces that include areas for toys, traditional games, dance, circuits and other activities. The proposal does not seek to eliminate soccer or restrict it, but rather to expand the game offering so that each boy and girl, regardless of their age or activity preference, finds a place in the playground where they can participate and enjoy in an environment of respect and goodwill. coexistence.

An Example of Impact at the Comas School, Lima

In a public primary school in the district of Comas, in Lima, Peru, where 864 boys and girls between 6 and 12 years old study, the “Playing at School” initiative has been successfully implemented. In this institution, the problems of physical and verbal violence and discrimination, as well as the lack of inclusive recreational options, were affecting school coexistence. With the support of the Foundation and the leadership of a teacher responsible for the “Kusikuy” playgroup in Quechua, which means “Space of Happiness”, this project was implemented every Friday during recess, with the support of the school management.

The process began in November 2023, and throughout 2024, weekly activities have been carried out that have generated a notable change in the school environment. Although initially there was some fear among the volunteer teachers, the experience has been one of learning with the students. During Friday breaks, the playground is now filled with boys and girls of all ages participating in various games and enjoying inclusive recreational spaces. In addition, a reduction in the levels of violence and conflicts has been noted, observing better coexistence and respect among students.

Opinions of Boys and Girls about the "Kusikuy" Playgroup

To learn more about the experience from the perspective of the boys and girls, a brief satisfaction survey was applied, where students were able to express their opinions about the playgroup. Below, we present the results of this questionnaire, which demonstrate the high degree of satisfaction and the importance that students attribute to this inclusive play space.

This report not only reflects the positive impact of "Jugando en el Cole" on school coexistence and the well-being of students, but also reaffirms the commitment of the Education and Development Foundation to the creation of inclusive and respectful environments, where the right to play is a reality accessible to everyone.

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Report on degree of satisfaction

Kusikuy Playgroup: A space for play and socialization

Education and Development Foundation

Mg. Javier Flores Tapia - General Coordinator of the Peruvian Playground Network

About us

We are a non-profit institution that defends children's right to play. For 30 years we have been generating and sustaining spaces and times in which play and the playful role of childhood are respected. We claim outdoor play spaces and promote environmental education that allows us to enjoy and care for nature.

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