Tips for more variety during the break

Smoking heads in math class, stale air after 45 minutes in an entire classroom, and finally, a break! Typical schoolyard games are ideal for recharging your batteries. Unfortunately, many classics have fallen into oblivion. During the long break, many kids prefer to pull out their mobile phone instead of skipping rope – and are unconcentrated and fidgety for the next hour. Trendily packaged, parents can make old break hits tasty again for their offspring. These promote movement, coordination, and team spirit and are fun for cool kids.

Jumping rope becomes rope-skipping

Jumping rope promotes coordination and endurance. Many people don’t know that those who regularly swing the rope at a young age prevent cardiovascular diseases in old age. In addition, children can use it to reduce stress. Anyone who thinks that skipping rope is old-fashioned is wrong: today, there are variants of the schoolyard classic that even little trendsetters are keen on again: “You can make an impression on your youngest with the terms Rope Skipping or Double Dutch,” explains DAK spokeswoman Nina Waldheim. “These trendy forms of jumping rope are played in groups and will quickly become a hit in the playground.

“Double Dutch requires concentration and team spirit: two students facing each other hit two long skipping ropes. In the middle, one or more classmates can demonstrate their skills. You can also do it alone with shorter ropes, to be jumped in twos or even in threes; there are no limits to the imagination.

Baggy pants and fantastic shots – streetball

Cool kids can play a relaxed round of streetball during the break. In this variation of the schoolyard classic, basketball, both teams play to a basket. “All the players have to bring along is fun with movement, accuracy and team spirit,” explains DAK sports scientist Uwe Dresel. “The game is for everyone who enjoys technology, tactics and quick steps.” There is now a basketball hoop in many schoolyards.

Rubber twist-Revival

Previously popular with girls in particular, today has almost forgotten: the schoolyard classic rubber twist is experiencing a revival with new rubber bands in many bright colours. “This intermission game is all about skill, body control and rhythm,” explains Dresel. The rubber band is stretched around the feet of two students, and off you go: different sequences of steps are hopped according to a predetermined rhythm. If the jumper makes a mistake by touching the rubber band or accidentally misses a jump, it’s the next turn. Gradually, the jump height and, thus, the difficulty level is increased.

phone hopping

“You can no longer lure children with hopping games from your childhood like ‘Heaven and Hell’ or ‘Snail’,” explains DAK spokeswoman Waldheim. “Instead, ‘phone hopping’ is the order of the day.” In this new hopping box variant, combined number and letter fields are drawn on the schoolyard with coloured chalk, like on the cell phone keypad. Then, you have to jump correctly on words called out by your classmates. This provides variety and even helps with learning to spell.

“Most breaks are too short for complex games,” explains Waldheim. “Schoolyard games also have to do without a great deal of material. This is precisely why not only the mobility but also the pupils’ creativity is promoted.” And with the excellent versions of the proven classics, no one is guaranteed to be embarrassed in front of their classmates.