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I know why they ban tag

Categories: Kids 5-7, Just for dads, Fun & activities, Places to go, Health & safety, Toys & games

Since I began writing for ParentDish, there have been a number of reports of schools that have banned the game of tag in the schoolyard. In fact, Jared's school does not allow any chase-type games. A lot of people don't get this -- after all, kids have been playing tag and other, similar games probably since the beginning of time. I have to admit that, until yesterday, I, too, was in the let-them-have-their-fun camp.

Until yesterday. We were at the local playground and the kids wanted to play the Pirate Game. Basically, I -- the tickle pirate -- run around chasing them saying things like "I'll get ya, ya scurvy dogs!", "Yer goin' ta walk the plank, ya scallywags!", and, of course, "Arrrrr!" The kids squeal with laughter and run away.

I chase them over, under, and through the play structure, sort of my own watered down version of parkour. Jared and Sara were paused by a spiral slide -- Sara on the slide and Jared next to it -- when I came up from the side. Laughing and screaming, Jared took off at full speed, moving sideways and looking back at me, right straight into a metal pole. It was a real Wile E. Coyote moment.

He went down like a lead balloon. I ran over just as the howling started. A whole lot of hugging, some kisses, and a bit of rest on the bench and he was okay, but man it must have hurt. That pole rang loud enough that I'm surprised Rachel didn't hear it at home. Luckily, the only reminders of the incident are a bit of a bruise on his ear, and a whole lot of guilty feelings on my part.

So, I understand while schools would ban chase games like tag. We won't be playing the Pirate Game anymore. At least, not for a long while, anyway.

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