New program at Woodview gets kids involved in including others at recess

Kelsey Holst said recess is a time to get together, have fun and be with friends.

"I felt bad for kids who had no one to play with. I saw some kids walking around having no friends," the third-grader at Woodview School said.

Pam Marks did not like seeing that either. As the school's social worker, her goal is to help everyone feel good about themselves and be accepted as part of a group.

Thanks to a program Marks brought this year to the Grayslake school, fellow students called "Playground Pals" look for kids who are alone and ask them to play and be available if someone asks them to play.

"If they chose to be alone, it's one thing," Marks said. "But they don't have to be alone."

Marks learned about Playground Pals at a Glencoe school and worked with special language pathologist Becky Meyer and resource teacher Tim Mohr to create a program at Woodview.

Meyer said most of the school day is structured. But for some children, whether they have special needs or not, the playground can be intimidating because it is an unstructured setting.

An invitation was sent to first- through fourth-grade students to volunteer as Playground Pals.

Forty students are chosen randomly among those who volunteer to serve each eight-week period. There are four Playground Pals at each recess, two from each grade.

Marks said part of what may have attracted students is the uniform, a red vest with a Playground Pals decal. But Meyer adds students must take the role seriously.

"I decided it was something new, and I wanted to try it," third-grader Ethan Dickelson said. "I like meeting new people to play with."

Not every Playground Pal is considered outgoing, Marks said. Some have trouble talking to other kids, but by wearing the vest, they are opening up to help others.

Principal Jeff Knapp said the program also encourages the kids to become leaders and feel special doing so.

"We also focus on kids who have the ability to step up to be role models and find leadership roles," he said.

Before starting the job, the students attend training. Through role playing, they learn how to greet another student or how to handle conflicts if a child does not want to play.

"You can still play with your friends. You just need to include someone who asks you to play," Marks said.

"Mostly, I go up to kids and always they are happy to play with me," third-grader Emilie Sorensen said.

Marks said the program is becoming a learning experience. Students are realizing there are kids who may be shy, but do want someone to play with.

"Even if they are not a Playground Pal does not mean you still can't ask someone to play," she said.

Marks would love to see Playground Pals at schools across the district, saying it only would make the school atmosphere better.

Knapp said he has discussed the program with other administrators within and outside the district. He says it could be a beneficial program for any elementary school that has recess.

"I think it's fun because we get to meet new kids. We get to have new friends," second-grader Josie Krook said. "And we get to play with more people instead of just one friend all day."