It is the latest skateboarding innovation. A flexible board that twists in the middle and has only one wheel at each end. The children propel them selves by wiggling.
Anyway the craze hit our school early this year rip sticks, skateboards and scooters were in- they literally arrived by the hundred at school.
they was the initial concern from some quarters, "Where is the padding, they will get hurt, they might crash..."
So we set up a zone, the children created rules and now each and every day the children of all ages (yes I have learnt to "rip"!) have been having a ball. Have there been crashes? No serious ones, have there been disagreements- yes is this a bad thing?
I spend 2 minutes last night talking with a teacher and we brainstormed the benefits and developments for 100-150 children aged from 5-11 all using wheels at school:
Their improved fitness (they go hard out for 1 hour a day at school, they wheel to and from school (another hour)
Their problem solving skills- rules around directions, zones, challenge areas
Their spacial and kinesthetic awayness- 100 kids on a court going full speed in all directions and rarely do they crash
Their co ordination skills- they race, jump, turn...
Their relationship skill development as they solve problems, disagreements, organise races, jumps...
The new focus on children and their learning from the caretaker he is now "re cycling every thing he can including slides, desks, steps so that children can jump and create obstacle courses.
The change in our playground as the other play areas are freed up while kids skate!
Downside? A bit of blood, a few bruises...
Fantastic learning, fun and fitness
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