Involvement of Rural Children in Recreational Play Activities and their views about it

Abstract

One hundred and fifty rural children (76 female and 74 Male) in the age range of 9 – 12 yrs were chosen at random from 5 villages of Parbhani District (MS) for studying involvement of rural children in recreational play activities and their views about it. The data related to the study were collected by personally interviewing of rural children based on structured and open ended interview schedule. It is obvious from the results that irrespective of gender higher percentage (54-86%) of rural children were observed to be involved in various outdoor play such as Lagori (86.66%) followed by Hide and Seek (85.33%),Chain game (84.00%), Running (83.33%), Kho-kho (80.66%), Chor Shipai (75.33%), Rassi khech (74.00%), Langadi (62), Kabbadi (68.66%), Blind fold (54.00%) for recreation purpose. Further it was observed that sample rural children sometimes used to play indoor play such as Stone games/ Sagargote (60.65%), Five corners (57.89%), Chimani udali bhoor (54.61%) and Bhatukali (47.72%) for recreation purpose. It was recorded that girls are getting less leisure time as compare to boys to involve in recreational activities. With regard to the benefits of involving in recreational activities, all the rural school going children expressed that they experienced sense of joy followed by having improvement in their health status(93.33%), enhanced physical fitness (88.66%), raised status in friends circle (83.33%), improved communication skills (79.33%). children expressed that their involvement in various recreational activities is sometimes become a cause for their parental aggression due to their participation in recreational play activities.