Should schools ban students from doing cartwheels?

Sally Anscombe/Getty Images Some Melbourne primary schools are reportedly restricting cartwheels and handstands after injuries.

While some parents have described the recent move as “ridiculous”, the Victorian Principals Association says schools can sometimes issue a temporary ban “to educate children on how to do [cartwheels or other activities] safely”.

This isn’t the first time schools have put a stop to cartwheels.

So how can we think about approaching this kind of play in schools? A 9 News report examines restrictions on cartwheels, handstands and other playground activities in Victorian schools.

A history of cartwheel bans In 2008, a Townsville school made international headlines after banning unsupervised gymnastics , including cartwheels.

This followed concerns about possible neck and back injuries.

In Sydney in 2012, a school required a trained gymnastics teacher to supervise cartwheels and handstands.

Officials said this was preventive and followed consultation with the education department’s sports unit.

In Bunbury, Western Australia in 2017, another school announced a temporary ban after repeated wrist injuries.

Reports cited concerns about bitumen, sloping grass and children attempting movements without proper preparation.

Read more: Of course parents want to keep tweens and teens safe.

Here’s why you should also encourage them to take risks Are cartwheels risky? Doing a cartwheel – or attempting one – seems like a very simple part of childhood.

Apart from being fun, it’s important for children to challenge themselves to develop physically, mentally and emotionally .

Through this kind of active exploration , children can try different ways to balance, turn and transfer weight, discovering what works and adapting their actions.