Why children need playgrounds in schools

According to Dr. Morayo Jimoh, a Chartered Educational Psychologist and Neurofeedback Practitioner “The playground is usually an open outdoor space, in a specific location, specially designed for children to express themselves freely and have fun in a safe way. The saying ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ holds much credence in […]

According to Dr. Morayo Jimoh, a Chartered Educational Psychologist and Neurofeedback Practitioner “The playground is usually an open outdoor space, in a specific location, specially designed for children to express themselves freely and have fun in a safe way. The saying ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ holds much credence in this regard as the impact of a playground on a child’s psychological development cannot be over-emphasized.
Our states and indeed the Federal Capital Territory( FCT) are adorned with mushroom structures and sometimes very dilapidated or uncompleted  buildings as Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools with many lacking in anything decent to call a centre of learning in academics or physical health education .
In addition to their physical inadequacies, many of the schools  have little or no provision for playgrounds. The most essential ingredient for the discovery of the talents that would be nurtured according to Minister of Sport and Chairman National Sport Commission, Malam  Bolaji Abdullahi into “Nigeria’s future global champions and propel them to the podium play level.”
President Jonathan in a recent function, talked about the need to review the conditions for approving private schools setup in the country.
Coming from the President, it strongly suggest that this salient problem has not escaped the attention of the government per say. What is however lacking is the appropriation of this policy statement by the relevant department and agencies of government.
The bulk of the discoveries according to Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi would be from a selected 22 schools across states of the federation. What the Minister did not emphasis however is how these schools are going to be selected and whether it would be only Government owned schools or combination of Government and Privately owned schools.
Another aspect that is largely developed through playground activities is social skills. On the playground, a space is provided for children to communicate, take turns, share toys and cooperate, which are skills essential for later interactions with people in adulthood. Children are able to express their ideas freely during play. With this, they can develop assertiveness and confidence when dealing with others.”
Chinweuba Otubelu Ebenezer, a parent in Abuja, said,  “bringing up a child does not only entails nutritional provision, but also the opportunity to play which allows the child to develop the spirit of competition in addition to building the muscles and social interaction. I urge parents to scrutinize the kind of schools they enroll their wards if the output they want is the total child”.
The apparent shortfall in schools playground seems to have caught the attention of entrepreneurs around Abuja for instance who have cashed-in by developing standard playgrounds were parents could take their children to enable them recess.
A number of these play ground adorn our cities with huge patronage from parents. The ambience is one you would rarely resist as these play grounds are equipped with modern play facilities which are designed to drive curiosity in children.
Mr Femi Blaize (lawyer), a Director with Kids Fun Ville, “the play place”, Abuja noted that the growing case of kids with obesity is fuelled by the lack of activities in our schools , adding that playground provide the environment for kids to evolve and discover themselves because it serves as a melting point.
One of such parents who choose to speak to our reporter anonymously said “Play is the primary vehicle for development of the imagination, intelligence, and language and I cannot leave these aspect of my children development to the mercy of what the schools can provide or not”
Speaking on the health benefits of play , Medical Director Ataga Scan and Diagnostic Services Kaduna ,Dr Ataga Agbogun Philip, said  “a review of available research suggest that the health benefit of physical activities in children are predominantly seen in the amelioration of risk factors for disease, avoidance of weight gain, achieving a peak bone mass and mental well-being”.
Dr. Morayo supporting this  view  said ” Just as playground activities provide many benefits to the total development of a child, a deficit of these may pose subtle but dangerous outcomes later in life. Playing provides an avenue to release tension and pressure from work, but if this is lacking in ones childhood, adults may not be able to handle stress in the right way.
Professor Peter Gray, an eminent psychologist says “that the playground which provides the opportunity for unstructured play is a testing ground for life. Children who are deprived of this will not be able to gain useful life experiences that will make them competent and confident adults”.  
Government seem to have done very well in providing sufficient space to accommodate playground in most public schools across the country even though the same cannot be said of the accompanying playground facilities. It has however failed in insisting that private school developers conform with the same provision.
Government must as a matter of urgency rethink its strategy with regards to the total child development in the overall architectural framework for schools licensing.
Dr. Morayo aptly chronicle the various positions of our interviewees when she said “There is so much pressure now more than ever before on the Nigerian child to be focused on academic work that there is little or no time for play. Play time is considered a waste of time and children are being bombarded with different lessons, instructional materials, home works, extension classes, after school lessons, home lessons and so on.”   
Government at all level would need to critically review the entire architecture of our primary and secondary schools across the country with a view to setting minimum standard in terms of diameter and equipments for a useful play ground as obtained in other countries of the world whose successes in this area we seek to emulate.