The playground as a laboratory for playful practices and social relations

Playtime in the playground at school is the object of study for its educational potential, a moment where children show their behavior in a natural way and their participation is free and voluntary according to interests and preferences. This study aimed to determine the effects of an intervention on the diversity of games played during school recess and on interactions among children. This is a quasi-experimental study using a mixed methodology, involving 270 children from two elementary schools in the north of Portugal. The instruments used for data collection were the questionnaire, field notes and video footage. After applying the pre-test, the didactic intervention and the post-test, we observed an increase in the practice of activities and a greater diversity of games performed (movement games), especially among girls, and a notable rise in peer interactions, particularly between different genders. Keywords: Playtime, school recess, playground, play, children, elementary school, relationships.