PLAY DAY LETS KIDS PERFORM FOR PARENTS

When Jefferson Elementary School started its first race at 9 a.m. Friday, the craning necks of dozens of children indicated that only a fraction of parents expected for the day's events had arrived.

But throughout the morning the parents came, most toting lawn chairs and cameras or camcorders and many with grandparents and toddlers in tow.

"Mama!" shouted 11-year old Tosha White, waving her hand wildly as she spotted her mother, grandmother and nephew approaching the field. It was almost White's turn to race, and she wanted her family to cheer her on.

"She's going to be with me all day," White said after hugging her mother and swinging her young nephew in the air. "It's fun to be with my mom."

Alma Schrader, Clippard and Franklin schools also held all-day play-a-thons Friday. The annual events are usually organized and staffed by parent volunteers to give students and teachers a break from classroom schedules and allow families to enjoy outside activities before school lets out for the summer.

"It's a celebration of all the hard work everybody does and a chance for everyone to relax and have fun," said Clippard principal Sydney Herbst. "I didn't have play day when I was growing up. Looking back now, I'm sorry I missed it."

Valuable to children

Felicia Fox, a former physical-education teacher in Sikeston, Mo., schools and former play- day organizer, said the physical activity and competitive play is valuable to children.

"Children enjoy being out and doing things with other classes," said Fox, a grandmother who managed the Bunny Toss booth at Alma Schrader with her daughter, Cheryl Sutherlan. "There's enough competition that they enjoy it but not so much that it's what I call blood and guts."

Attending Play Day required financial and professional decision-making for many of the parents. Some took personal days off work or made other arrangements to be off well in advance.

"The kids seem really disappointed when I can't be here for them," said Lisa Evans, whose son and daughter stuck close to her between races at Jefferson. "I figured one day out of the year I ought to be here if I can."

Cheryl Sutherlan said Evans has the right idea.

"I think if you have a child out here you should be out here," Sutherlan said. "I don't know too many jobs that you can't take an hour off, a couple hours or the whole day."

For some parents, the events marked important firsts for their families.

Tom Jackson of Speedway, Ind., traveled 300 miles to spend his first Play Day with his 9-year old son, Greg, who attends Alma Schrader.

Franklin parent Verna Bogart didn't rest easy until her son, J.C. White, 11, finished a foot race against other boys in his fifth-grade class.

White has suffered numerous health problems since birth, which came six months early. But Friday he left those problems -- and his classmates -- in the dust.

"He didn't fall. He didn't fall," shouted Bogart after seeing her son finish first in his race and jog over to a table to collect the blue ribbon he had earned. "He used to be so sick he couldn't even participate in gym. Now he's racing."

Children said they liked the idea of their parents spending an entire day outside with them.

"I think it's pretty good that she can always make it," said Clippard student Sylvia Christy, 10, whose mother, Mary, has never missed a Play Day. "I like the races, but sometimes I tell her not to yell because it just makes me more nervous."

Mary Christy doesn't mind it when her daughter tells her to stop yelling.

"There are a lot of parents who can't make it, and we try to hang out with their kids and yell for them too," she said.