School ban on conkers

Janepig

Ha, it's a sign of the times but DS was playing football in a village out of town afew weeks ago and while he was playing I was collecting conkers with DD which were lying around all over the place. They're 8 and 11 and had no clue what you were supposed to do with the things, they'd never played conkers in their lives. They're still in the kitchen where they've been left since emerging from their cases (are those green outer husks called cases?).

I remember my brother always had conkers this time of year when he was younger, he used to pickle them in vinegar, bake them in the oven, all sorts. I'm sure the headcases DS's in school with would cause no end of mayhem with them though so I'm glad they don't seem to be popular around here.

Jx

Becles

Attain_by_suprise wrote: »

What danger do they say a sponge football poses?

It's in case the ones running after the ball run into the ones not playing football.

Don't know about anyone else, but I kind of expect them coming home now and again with bruises and grazes because they've fallen over the yard. It's just part of being a child!

pollypenny

Janepig wrote: »

Ha, it's a sign of the times but DS was playing football in a village out of town afew weeks ago and while he was playing I was collecting conkers with DD which were lying around all over the place. They're 8 and 11 and had no clue what you were supposed to do with the things, they'd never played conkers in their lives. They're still in the kitchen where they've been left since emerging from their cases (are those green outer husks called cases?).

I remember my brother always had conkers this time of year when he was younger, he used to pickle them in vinegar, bake them in the oven, all sorts. I'm sure the headcases DS's in school with would cause no end of mayhem with them though so I'm glad they don't seem to be popular around here.

Jx

Put them in the corners of each room as spider deterrents,

Janepig

Becles wrote: »

It's in case the ones running after the ball run into the ones not playing football.

Don't know about anyone else, but I kind of expect them coming home now and again with bruises and grazes because they've fallen over the yard. It's just part of being a child!

I remember hating the warmer weather when DD was about 5 or 6 because she'd wear summer dress with short socks and her poor knees used to look like she'd been attacked with a cheese grater, they were red and scabbed for the whole summer term. Now it's scrams, black eyes and bruises from cheerleading practice!!

No bans on footballs for DS, I think they tried to ban bulldogs at some point but the kids changed it's name to "spider" and got round the ban that way. DS is forever covered in bruises, he plays football and rugby on Sunday mornings and likes to spend Sunday afternoons counting the bruises and stud marks he's got!

pollypenny wrote: »

Put them in the corners of each room as spider deterrents,

I'm always afraid that might entice them from their hideaways while they try to escape from the horror of the conker!!

Jx

pollypenny

Nothing like a set of stud marks to show off, especially when you're in junior school.

Janepig

pollypenny wrote: »

Nothing like a set of stud marks to show off, especially when you're in junior school.

Oh he loves it Pol, he sits there counting them. He had a stud to the face, near his eye, in the early part of last season but he got up and carried on playing and we've never been allowed to forget that one!!

Jx

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Attain_by_suprise wrote: »

Has anyone else encountered this ban at their children's school? I think it is ludicrous to ban a game that has been played in the school playground for decades. I used to play conkers and can not recall at any time anyone getting injured playing it. You have more chance getting injured doing PE.

They always rant on about trying to get kids out of the house and not sat in front of the TV or games consoles but when you have a game that is free to play which encourages kids to go out running around the woods looking for big conkers, they ban it.

I remember the squabbles, fights and outright whining contests that came about. Mostly about people cheating or sobbing over their 57er getting obliterated.

I'm sure that is more likely to be influencing the decision than the odd bashed knuckle, whatever might be said officially

Marisco

Attain_by_suprise wrote: »

Our's is baa baa rainbow sheep. I dont think you can say green now, its racist towards aliens.

It is in my great grandsons' school as well. I thought my granddaughter was extracting the urine when she told me!!! :eek: So no, all these stories are not all urban myths unfortunately.

Cash-Cows

sarahkmv wrote: »

Also I think some (not all) kids would get upset at school if their conker got damaged or broken,

Which is the point of the game.

bright_side

Blimey I thought they were banned years ago!!