NORTH ROBINSON — Hannah Crawford Elementary fifth graders Ella Agee and Sydney Stirm are enjoying a new style of recess at their school.
“It’s different things that you would not normally think of during recess,” Agee said of the Refreshing Recess program initiated by occupational therapy assistant students at North Central State College.
Refreshing Recess is part of the “Every Moment Counts” program created by Susan Bazyk, Rebecca Mohler and Shannon Kerns. The program at Hannah Crawford was created by North Central State Professor and Academic Clinical Coordinate Cindy Cornell.
“The program is designed to teach children how to get along and work together while having fun,” Cornell said. “We base our program off of Susan’s ideas.”
The themes of the program are inclusivity and anti-bullying.
“We try to get all of the kids involved,” Cornell said. “It helps them with their social skills, interactions with each other and building friendships.”
Students have participated in a variety of activities using materials such as parachutes and a copper blanket.
“We have done so many fun things,” Stirm said. “It helps everyone feel included and part of the fun.”
Occupational therapy student Hannah Stone of Shelby said she loved helping the children learn new activities.
“The activities are so much fun for the kids and at the same, they are learning,” said Stone, who implements that activities of the program, alongside her classmates, every Thursday at the school.
Every Moment Counts: Promoting Mental Throughout the Day initiative is a six-week program but Hannah Crawford principal Cindy Voss said she will continue many of the new activities in the future.
“The kids are having fun while participating in planned activities during recess,” Voss said. “The program has given us ideas and activities that we will continue to implement throughout the year.”
For more information about the program, visit the Every Moment Counts website.
Visit North Central State College’s website for more information on the school’s occupational therapy program.