Games With Rules
As children grow from the preschool years into the elementary school years, their play behaviors reflect their growing understanding of the way the world works. They become rule-makers in their own world of play. Child psychologists have termed the type of play common to this age group as "games with rules". Other types of play remain in the child's repertoire, but games with rules usually come to dominate.
Good playgrounds for this age child provide a few essential components such as room to operate in groups and lots of appropriate supports, like balls, bats, hoops, soccer goals, and parachutes.
Hard court spaces with walls to bounce balls against, basketball goals, and lines for 4-square games, etc. give a variety of game possibilities.
Other, more sedate games can be encouraged with checkerboards, tables, shady areas, and table-game supplies.
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