TEACHER'S SKILL IN ORGANIZING OUTDOOR GAMES AS A FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY AND SUCCESSFUL RECREATION OF A SCHOOLCHILD IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

This article explores the role of active (movement-based) games as a powerful pedagogical tool to address modern challenges such as increased psycho-emotional stress, declining physical activity among children, and insufficient leisure culture. The authors emphasize that active games, beyond providing physical exercise, also perform a wide range of socializing and developmental functions. They enhance communication skills, promote emotional resilience, teamwork, and a positive attitude toward a healthy lifestyle. The therapeutic value of games is also highlighted, especially in the context of inclusive education. Special attention is given to the role of the teacher as an organizer of active play. The article argues that the effectiveness of play-based activities in educational settings largely depends on the teacher’s professional training, creativity, and ability to adapt the game to the age, physical, and psychological characteristics of the children. The inclusion of training courses in teacher education programs, aimed at developing competencies in physical recreation and leisure pedagogy, is seen as both timely and necessary. In conclusion, the authors state that active games in extracurricular settings are not only a means of improving physical health but also a medium for shaping a constructive leisure culture. Games support the holistic development of the child as a biosocial being in need of movement, emotional interaction, and self-realization in a group. The effective use of play as an educational method requires a teacher who is not only capable of organizing it but also enriching it with developmental and educational meaning.