--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Play is under attack in our nation's…" description: "\"Play is under attack in our nation's schools - and shrinking recess periods are only part of the problem. Homework is increasing. Cities are building n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/darell-hammond-15754_attack_play-is-under-attack-in-our-nation-s-sch_1603760.jpg" --- # Play is under attack in our nation's schools - and… ![“Play is under attack in our nation's schools - and shrinking recess periods are only part of the problem. Homework is increasing. Cities are building new schools without playgrounds. Safety concerns are prompting bans of tag, soccer, and even running on the schoolyard.” quote by Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/darell-hammond-15754_attack_play-is-under-attack-in-our-nation-s-sch_1603760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/darell-hammond-15754_attack_play-is-under-attack-in-our-nation-s-sch_1603760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/darell-hammond-15754_attack_play-is-under-attack-in-our-nation-s-sch_1603760.jpg) > “Play is under attack in our nation's schools - and shrinking recess periods are only part of the problem. Homework is increasing. Cities are building new schools without playgrounds. Safety concerns are prompting bans of tag, soccer, and even running on the schoolyard.” [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Play is being reduced in schools, with less recess, more homework, and safety bans limiting physical activity. **In simple terms:** School playtime is shrinking due to safety and academic pressures. Key Takeaway Advocate for balanced school schedules. Themes education health child development policy Mood concerned urgent Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - community meetings - parental advocacy - policy proposals Key Concepts physical activity school design curriculum planning Questions to Reflect On - How can schools integrate safe play? - What policies could protect recess time? A Different Perspective Emphasizing academics may neglect holistic child health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Concerns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerns/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Homework](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homework/) [Increasing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increasing/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playgrounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playgrounds/) [Playgrounds Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playgrounds-safety-6104215/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Recess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recess/) [Recess Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recess-periods-6104216/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools/) [Schools Playgrounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools-playgrounds-6104214/) [Shrinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinking/) [Soccer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soccer/) [Tag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tag/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/) ## Related quotes > [During the year, our schools are busy slashing P.E. and recess to make more time for math. During the summer, we get ourselves worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/during-the-year-our-schools-are-busy-slashing-p-e-and-recess-to-make/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [We must make sure that there is recess and P.E. class in every school, getting kids outside for 60 minutes, every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/we-must-make-sure-that-there-is-recess-and-p-e-class-in-every-school/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [During National Playground Safety Week, I'll celebrate common-sense safety. I'll also celebrate skinned knees and bruised elbows. I'll celebrate so-called 'dangerous' playgrounds - playgrounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/during-national-playground-safety-week-i-ll-celebrate-common-sense/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [At KaBOOM! we are crowd-sourcing a nationwide Map of Play that uses GIS data and user rankings to identify where the engaging playgrounds are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/at-kaboom-we-are-crowd-sourcing-a-nationwide-map-of-play-that-uses/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Just as playgrounds didn't even make the priority list of most of those responding to Katrina, they all too often slip off the radar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/just-as-playgrounds-didn-t-even-make-the-priority-list-of-most-of/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Our first phase was inviting all the women Ambassadors who were here from other countries and trying to get in touch with all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bernice-johnson/our-first-phase-was-inviting-all-the-women-ambassadors-who-were-here/) [Eddie Bernice Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bernice-johnson/) > [I wear two hats. The one is business and increasing my shareholders' value; the other is social responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guler-sabanci/i-wear-two-hats-the-one-is-business-and-increasing-my-shareholders/) [Guler Sabanci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guler-sabanci/) > [Increasing your self-esteem is easy. Simply do good things and remember that you did them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-delano-hinkins/increasing-your-self-esteem-is-easy-simply-do-good-things-and/) [Roger Delano Hinkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-delano-hinkins/) > [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I think the personal satisfaction of doing good in the community and increasing value and holding true to the Hippocratic oath and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-ruiz/i-think-the-personal-satisfaction-of-doing-good-in-the-community-and/) [Raul Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-ruiz/) > [Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/some-70-to-80-of-all-who-join-the-military-will-return-to-the/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Iowans do understand the importance of breaking down barriers and increasing international trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-branstad/iowans-do-understand-the-importance-of-breaking-down-barriers-and/) [Terry Branstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-branstad/) > [We must commit ourselves to an 'all of the above' energy approach, with a major focus on increasing domestic production and expanding alternatives fuels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-roskam/we-must-commit-ourselves-to-an-all-of-the-above-energy-approach-with/) [Peter Roskam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-roskam/) > [Patience, increasing patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/patience-increasing-patience/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Many of us are alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of medical care, including patients, who are the consumers. However, medical malpractice is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-baca/many-of-us-are-alarmed-at-the-skyrocketing-cost-of-medical-care/) [Joe Baca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-baca/) ## More by Darell Hammond > [Increased physical activity during the school day can help children's attention, classroom behavior, and achievement test scores. Meanwhile, the decline of play is closely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/increased-physical-activity-during-the-school-day-can-help-children-s/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [As parents, we need to send our kids back to 'old-fashioned' outdoor summer camps, which have been on the decline as the demand for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/as-parents-we-need-to-send-our-kids-back-to-old-fashioned-outdoor/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Just as playgrounds didn't even make the priority list of most of those responding to Katrina, they all too often slip off the radar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/just-as-playgrounds-didn-t-even-make-the-priority-list-of-most-of/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Growing up in a group home, and with an undiagnosed learning disability to boot, the odds of success were not on my side. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/growing-up-in-a-group-home-and-with-an-undiagnosed-learning/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Our country's growing obsession with organized sports isn't just hurting our children, but also our communities. As play is siphoned off to gyms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/our-country-s-growing-obsession-with-organized-sports-isn-t-just/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [If there's one thing that 'No Child Left Behind' has proven, it's that more academics don't make for smarter children - or even higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/if-there-s-one-thing-that-no-child-left-behind-has-proven-it-s-that/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Only one in five children in the U.S. lives within walking distance of a park. Many more lack access to a quality early childhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/only-one-in-five-children-in-the-u-s-lives-within-walking-distance-of/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Public swimming pools, recreation centers, summer reading programs, youth jobs programs - they are all shutting their doors. And they are all facilities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/public-swimming-pools-recreation-centers-summer-reading-programs/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [This summer, we need to let our kids go play and we need to stop worrying about whether or not it's going to ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/this-summer-we-need-to-let-our-kids-go-play-and-we-need-to-stop/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Play is the best natural resource in a creative economy. Kids need more of it. It is the work of childhood. We hope to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/play-is-the-best-natural-resource-in-a-creative-economy-kids-need/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [As I see it, the debate between summer vacation vs. year-round school glosses over the most important questions. Namely, how can we bring play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/as-i-see-it-the-debate-between-summer-vacation-vs-year-round-school/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Kids who don't play are not just at greater risk of falling behind academically, but also of becoming overweight or obese, failing to integrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/kids-who-don-t-play-are-not-just-at-greater-risk-of-falling-behind/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [We must make sure that there is recess and P.E. class in every school, getting kids outside for 60 minutes, every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/we-must-make-sure-that-there-is-recess-and-p-e-class-in-every-school/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [I was raised in a group home for 14 years, so I was a beneficiary of philanthropy. I didn't have a family. The nameless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/i-was-raised-in-a-group-home-for-14-years-so-i-was-a-beneficiary-of/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [We're taking sports too far and starting kids too early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/we-re-taking-sports-too-far-and-starting-kids-too-early/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) [Explore all 42 Darell Hammond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) ## More Attack quotes > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/president-obama-has-never-summarized-the-obama-doctrine-with-such/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Everything has got a place in my house. If something is moved I get a panic attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/everything-has-got-a-place-in-my-house-if-something-is-moved-i-get-a/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) > [I mean, it's not just the rappers, you know what i'm saying? People want to attack anybody that's a large figure, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/i-mean-it-s-not-just-the-rappers-you-know-what-i-m-saying-people-want/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Free speech has a very small constituency on the modern campus, particularly if the speaker under attack is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/free-speech-has-a-very-small-constituency-on-the-modern-campus/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [Daniil is a player who will not give you many chances to attack. If I have enough power and choose the right moment, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/daniil-is-a-player-who-will-not-give-you-many-chances-to-attack-if-i/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [Distributed ledgers are inherently harder to attack because instead of a single database, there are multiple shared copies of the same database, so a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-walport/distributed-ledgers-are-inherently-harder-to-attack-because-instead/) [Mark Walport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-walport/) > [Attack life. It's going to kill you anyways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/attack-life-it-s-going-to-kill-you-anyways/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For those of us in the political business, generally, it's been pretty much an unwritten but understood rule that family and children are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/for-those-of-us-in-the-political-business-generally-it-s-been-pretty/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) [Browse all 1,074 Attack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Play is under attack in our nation's schools - and shrinking recess periods are only part of the problem. Homework is increasing. Cities are building new schools without playgrounds. 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