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School playgrounds are getting squeezed: Eight ways to keep students active in small spaces

As enrollments climb and urban spaces become more crowded, have been left with less play space per student than a prison cell.

Standard prison cell recommend at least 7.5 square meters per prisoner. One Sydney school has just 1.14 square meters of play space per student.

As experts in health and physical education, we are deeply concerned by students are running out of play space.

Why is this a problem? And what options do parents and teachers have to keep young people happy and healthy?

Space at a premium

Australian student numbers are predicated by 17% over the decade to 2026, creating a need for hundreds of new, mostly metropolitan schools and in areas previously set aside for play.

With only small blocks available for some inner-city school sites, have been in most Australian states. More vertical schools are planned, even at the .

Vertical schools can provide some for climbing, indoor running and ball sports, as well as outdoor areas such as rooftops.

But a and a rather than stairs does not help keep kids active or provide much opportunity to engage with .

Australian kids have physical activity levels. Making sure students get the is vital for them to grow up fit and healthy.

How much space do kids need?

Australian guidelines on free play space—school areas other than buildings, footpaths and car parks—suggest a minimum of per student.

However, Australian researchers have school spaces should ideally be increased to 25 square meters per student, combined with access to portable play equipment such as balls, bats and blocks.

Even more space can have extra benefits. in Europe showed when more than 15 square meters per student was available, primary school children were much more physically active than those with less than eight square meters.

A study in the United Kingdom that as play spaces per child increased, so did more vigorous physical activity. Smaller play spaces can in crowded play, clashes and reduced movement.

Eight ways to keep kids active in small spaces

Children need space to discover, take calculated movement risks and extend themselves physically. Here are eight ideas to keep young people active in confined spaces.

These can be adapted to the home, classrooms, gymnasiums and outdoor areas, .

1. Move to a theme

Give kids a , such as "stand as tall or as wide was possible."

Students then move in a variety of ways to match the theme—widening or narrowing their body, twisting, turning, bending, stretching, balancing, rolling and transferring body weight.

2. Use activity 'zones'

Use to create zones and stations in small spaces where small groups of students can do different activities such as push-ups or . Cards can illustrate ways to undertake the activities at different levels—from easy to medium and difficult.

Sport Australia's cards allow teachers and parents to match activities to children's ages.

3. Move to music

Dance offers a wide and sequences of movements that can be done in a small space.

Along with making up their own dances, students can perform movements that suggest . Another option is regular one-minute with music throughout the day.

4. Set up obstacle courses

Get students to make up . Not only is this an exercise in problem-solving, it can also increase their around physical education.

5. Use nearby parks and facilities

Many young people their closest park. But public spaces can be a valuable resource for physical education and .

6. Play co-operative games

Develop . These ask groups to work together in a small space, developing not just gross motor skills, but team work and problem-solving. An example is throwing a scarf in the air that both partners need to catch, gradually increasing the distance apart.

7. Adapt the space

Use colors, lines and patterns within spaces as guides for students to follow, aim towards and during movement activities.

It's also a useful way to break up the space into zones for different activities, and even such as bowling and beanbag bocce.

8. Look beyond PE

Beyond physical education there are other opportunities to be active. This even includes traditional subjects like , which can be adapted to use movement-based activities.