I grew up in northern Utah in the 1980s and early 90s, and have a few specific memories of recess. One of my fondest memories is swinging on very long chained swings. There was a large dome shaped structure that felt 20 feet high and had about 5 or 6 swings on in. At one point in time there was an inflated ball hanging in the center and …
I grew up in northern Utah in the 1980s and early 90s, and have a few specific memories of recess. One of my fondest memories is swinging on very long chained swings. There was a large dome shaped structure that felt 20 feet high and had about 5 or 6 swings on in. At one point in time there was an inflated ball hanging in the center and we tried to kick it at the peak of the swing. When the ball was no longer there we tried to stretch and kick the chain that was prob a foot long or so. We went high enough that we would get slack in the chain and would have a few second of free fall before the chains caught us again. I loved it! This structure was also regularly climbed on and I don't recall getting in trouble for it. We also had these odd swings we called gliders that were pumped by hand while you sat inside a frame over a seat. I remember at least 1 or 2 kids got hit in the head with these because they wandered too close to them. They were eventually removed a few years after I moved into Jr high. I also remember swinging bars. They were simple bars of varying heights that we would hook one knee over and then spin around them head over heels. Inevitably one year we would be too tall and would hit our heads in the dirt beneath them. I also remember lots of football, kickball, red rover, building snowmen, tag, and other field games. There was lots of open space and kids often wandered very far from the playground, but I don't recall anyone getting in trouble for it. Snowballs were a bit touch and go as we got older. I remember one kid getting in trouble for throwing one at me and hitting me in the face. I tackled him afterward and the recess monitor lady got mad at me. But when I told her about the snowball she hauled him off instead. But generally speaking snowball fights were pretty regualr and accepted. I don't recall there being more than 2 recess ladies. And I often remember teachers being out in the morning and afternoon recesses and 2 non teachers out at lunch. One teacher used a large handbell to bring us in and another one could whistle so loud the whole playground could hear her. We had tall metal slides, teeter totters, and I do recall a smaller plastic structure for the younger kids on one side of the school. Great memories.
I grew up in northern Utah in the 1980s and early 90s, and have a few specific memories of recess. One of my fondest memories is swinging on very long chained swings. There was a large dome shaped structure that felt 20 feet high and had about 5 or 6 swings on in. At one point in time there was an inflated ball hanging in the center and we tried to kick it at the peak of the swing. When the ball was no longer there we tried to stretch and kick the chain that was prob a foot long or so. We went high enough that we would get slack in the chain and would have a few second of free fall before the chains caught us again. I loved it! This structure was also regularly climbed on and I don't recall getting in trouble for it. We also had these odd swings we called gliders that were pumped by hand while you sat inside a frame over a seat. I remember at least 1 or 2 kids got hit in the head with these because they wandered too close to them. They were eventually removed a few years after I moved into Jr high. I also remember swinging bars. They were simple bars of varying heights that we would hook one knee over and then spin around them head over heels. Inevitably one year we would be too tall and would hit our heads in the dirt beneath them. I also remember lots of football, kickball, red rover, building snowmen, tag, and other field games. There was lots of open space and kids often wandered very far from the playground, but I don't recall anyone getting in trouble for it. Snowballs were a bit touch and go as we got older. I remember one kid getting in trouble for throwing one at me and hitting me in the face. I tackled him afterward and the recess monitor lady got mad at me. But when I told her about the snowball she hauled him off instead. But generally speaking snowball fights were pretty regualr and accepted. I don't recall there being more than 2 recess ladies. And I often remember teachers being out in the morning and afternoon recesses and 2 non teachers out at lunch. One teacher used a large handbell to bring us in and another one could whistle so loud the whole playground could hear her. We had tall metal slides, teeter totters, and I do recall a smaller plastic structure for the younger kids on one side of the school. Great memories.