"Playful relaxation" - the new subject at the Rudolf Koch School
24.03.2023 – Schoolwork, grades, classmates, breaks, teachers - because school is often stressful, "Playfully relaxed" is now a health promotion project at schools with afternoon supervision. Initially planned as a pilot phase for three years, the participating children learn various relaxation techniques and learn about mindfulness and balance.
"Something that some adults find difficult," says Heiko Bürcky from the All-Day Service Center, who would like to implement the project, which is funded by the statutory health insurance funds in Hesse (GKV), at all Offenbach all-day schools. The project is managed and organized by the "More time for children" association. Since the end of 2019, Bürcky and his colleague Yvonne Erbes-Entschewitsch have been working with schools and support associations to develop concepts and timetables for the expansion of all-day activities in Offenbach schools. Playfully Relaxed" is now starting at the Rudolf Koch School. Around 1,000 pupils attend the grammar school, which is located between the city center and the River Main and positions itself as a cultural school as well as a health-promoting school.
Social education worker Magret Witte is in charge of lunchtime supervision at the RKS and thinks it's a great offer. Especially in an all-day school with up to 40 hours a week, escapes like the one offered by the "Mehr Zeit für Kinder" association are important, she says, and she likes the way they are implemented: "Suddenly there was a smell in the room and this little accent created a different atmosphere." Isabel Altmann from "Mehr Zeit für Kinder" has distributed a few scented sticks around the room and is now standing in front of the children, who are asked to imagine they are a flower. The boys and girls are focused, no one is laughing, everyone is breathing deeply and stretching from their toes to their fingertips. A relaxation session lasts a good half hour, during which the children learn to recognize stress early on and counteract it with the help of various techniques. "We focus on the children, but of course teachers and parents also benefit in the end," says Bürcky. After all, children who know how to create personal retreats and are more aware of their needs are less aggressive and can concentrate better. In addition, the caregivers are trained as multipliers - so the project goals can be anchored in everyday care in the long term. In addition to the Rudolf Koch School, the Mathilden School, Goetheschule and Beethoven School have also taken part in the program so far. Interested schools are welcome to contact Heiko Bürcky and his team for more information.