Primary school playgrounds: a holistic approach to fun, health, and safety

This study aims to investigate schoolyards with regard to leisure activities, health and hygiene conditions, and safety, as perceived by both students and teachers. Using a qualitative case study approach, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with teachers and drawings of free time activities from 151 primary school students. The sample comprised 30 classroom teachers from six primary schools under the Ministry of National Education of Northern Cyprus, selected through purposeful sampling. Data analysis was performed using content analysis. Results show that both students and teachers desire well-equipped schoolyards while identifying several deficiencies in certain areas. Furthermore, the study observed that school gardens also had shortcomings that need to be addressed. While students focused mostly on playground activities and toys, teachers emphasized the need for activities targeting cognitive and affective areas, with reported deficiencies in these domains. Teachers also identified shortcomings in health and hygiene conditions and safety, highlighting areas for improvement. Based on the findings, it is recommended that play fields in schoolyards be developed and that health boards be established in schools. Moreover, teacher training is recommended to actively engage students in free time activities.