Children spend quite a lot of time at school and children naturally like to exercise. Because children exercise less and less, both at school and in their free time, motor skills decrease. This is a national trend. That is why we offer Pauzesport at various primary schools in Wassenaar at Fit in Wassenaar. During the break, various sports and games activities are offered during the break under the supervision of the neighborhood sports coach from Fit in Wassenaar. These activities provide structure, every child is involved and can participate within their own possibilities. The activities offered encourage versatile movement, which benefits the motor skills of students. In addition, the neighborhood sports coach supervises the break, which means fewer teachers are needed on the playground.
Break sport
The neighborhood sports coach from Fit in Wassenaar will offer break sports at a school for a number of weeks. During that period, the neighborhood sports coach brings materials and sets up the activities on the schoolyard. The neighborhood sports coach rotates the activities so that children remain challenged during these weeks. The neighborhood sports coach encourages students to participate in activities that allow children to exercise more and in a more versatile way during the Break Sports. After the break, the teachers notice that there is less anxiety and that students have been able to clear their heads because they have put their bodies to work. Afterwards, children are more concentrated in class.
Train the Learner program
The next step is that schools can participate in the ‘Train the Student’ program of Fit in Wassenaar. Students from groups 7 or 8 are trained as beginning sports and games coaches. The students are supervised for a period of 6 weeks to provide sports and games during the break. The first two weeks are all about getting to know each other. The students then work for four weeks to master the basic skills of a sports/game coach. These sports and games coaches then take on the active role of supervising the Pause sport and the neighborhood sports coach maintains short lines of communication with the school in question about the progress. The ‘Train the Learner’ program enables older students to guide younger children in outdoor activities, contributing to the development of leadership and a sense of responsibility. They develop various citizenship skills, such as social skills, creative and critical thinking and reflection. In this way, together we ensure more exercise, fun and self-confidence at school!
