At Swanson Primary School in Auckland, New Zealand, the principal has decided to see what would happen if the students were allowed to participate in activities during recess that were risky and could possibly cause them physical injury. Instead of yelling at students to get down from a tree and not ride their bike through the playground, the administration is letting the children decide what activities they want to do during recess.

At Swanson Primary School in Auckland, New Zealand, the principal has decided to see what would happen if the students were allowed to participate in activities during recess that were risky and could possibly cause them physical injury.

Instead of yelling at students to get down from a tree and not ride their bike through the playground, the administration is letting the children decide what activities they want to do during recess.

Short of getting into fights, the kids are free to test their physical boundaries without fear of being reprimanded.

Parents have been supportive of the alternative approach to recess and playtime, which lets the children experience the lessons associated with risky behavior, rather than attempting to shield them from it altogether.

Bruce McLachlan, the principal of Swanson Primary School is quoted as saying: “We want kids to be safe and to look after them, but we end up wrapping them in cotton wool when in fact they should be able to fall over.”

The results show that bullying, vandalism and serious injuries have decreased along with the added benefit of having students return to class more focused and ready to learn.