Today I was given the privilege of attending playtime at the local Surrey Square Primary School. It was the first time I had set foot in a school playground since being a pupil myself, and the shrieks of enjoyment and excitement echoing across the architecture and flying over the hedges were revealed through the school gates as a scene to behold.
The infinite inventiveness of children playing was immediately apparent. Despite the abundance of play paraphernalia, milk bottles were kicked across the tarmac, drain pipes were swung on and bike racks climbed. Games criss-crossed and play spaces overlapped, with balls flying over fences and children sprinting across each other, their imagined boundaries continuously recreated and demolished.
The Year Two pupils from the church visit on Monday recognised me with Father David and immediately held my hands and dragged me into their excitement. We played 'Racing', 'Sly Fox' (similar to 'What's the Time Mr. Wolf'), 'Duck Duck Goose' and 'Champ'. I came last in the race (no different to when I was at school) but was given a firm handshake by one seven year old girl and congratulated for my effort. Some of the girls played with my hair whilst boys used us as a hiding place, each individual in a world of their own, yet strongly connected to their co-players through their chosen game. I gave the children chalk where they were amazed they were allowed to draw on the floor before a chaotic web of attempted hopscotch nets emerged suddenly across the tarmac. They all thoughtfully returned the chalk to me when the bell went for them to go back to class, and I was left knowing I will play at Surrey Square again.
Eleanor Shipman
Pembroke People
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