Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed trimming state money for physical education courses at community colleges as a result of the budget shortfall.

Under the governor's proposal, P.E. classes would be funded as noncredit courses, resulting in a 40 percent cut in state funding. The plan, unveiled in his revised budget this month, would cut millions of dollars from the budgets of some college districts and eliminate numerous part time teac…

Now is the time to SAVE RECESS. Before the school year schedule is set, let authorities know that kids have a right to recess. Our new materials can help you to make the case for the importance of recess.

Experts agree that playtime can be just as vital as classroom time to a child's social, emotional and educational development. Despite mounting evidence that kids need an outlet to blow off steam, learn to interact with others and get the…

The Rand Research Corporation released a study indicating that a "nearly free" resource in the childhood obesity crisis is the local school park or playground. The study found that "girls who live farther than a half-mile from a school playground have a 3-percent higher body mass index than girls who do have playgrounds within a half mile of where they live."

The impact of the built environment on helping children and youth…

Indoor playgrounds are growing. It seems odd just when we're hearing more and more research about the importance of children playing outside.

A study by Oliver Pergams of the University of Illinois-Chicago and Patricia Zaradic of the Environmental Leadership Program finds that park visits and applications to hunt, camp and fish in US National parks have decreased between 18 and 25 percent in the last twenty years.

It only takes listening to a…

For more on the Peaceful Playgrounds visit www.peacefulplaygrounds.com

The video includes a view of a playground marking called Multi-Use Circle. Click to view additional school playground stencil packages to enhance children's game choices.

The obesity epidemic has spurred many parents to try to get their kids to spend less time in front of the TV or computer and more time running around outside. But a new study suggests that kids who exercise aren’t only in better physical shape; they’re happier, too.

Canadian researcher Mark Holder and colleagues asked 375 children, ages 8-12, about what they did for fun, paying special attention to the amount of time the kids said they spent in “…

Many adults know that secondary school is a time of change but they may not understand the full extent of the many challenges kids face.

During this transition from childhood to adolescence, secondary schoolers begin to place more importance on making friends and being part of a group. They also start to check out how other kids act, look, sound, and dress. Some kids may seem to be searching for a reason to tease or torment another student.

Alone …

We encourage you to visit the Peaceful Playgrounds grants page of our website for grant writing materials and templates. The grants page provides templates to use for Corporate or Foundation Grants. Download a copy of our Program Grant Writing Template and get a head start on writing a successful proposal for implementing the Peaceful Playgrounds Program at your school.

This month's newsletter provides information on:

Head Start Body Start P…

"Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that kids' natural short bursts of play energy contribute just as much to a healthy lifestyle as longer bouts of organized exercise, such as gym class," according to sports columnist Dan Peterson.

Researchers, Michelle Stone and Roger Eston of Exeter's School of Sport and Health Sciences reported their findings in the April edition of the International Journal of Pediatric Obes…

Join us as we walk you through the grant writing process so you can get the new Head Start Body Start Play Space you deserve for your center.

We’ll cover the guidelines for proposal preparation and instructions including: conducting a Play Space Assessment, how to develop a budget, gathering a support team, project evaluation, how to identify potential media outlets in your area and writing press releases that draw attention to your new Head Star…

“While these successes are significant, working with one community, one school, or one childcare provider at a time is not going to end the obesity epidemic,” said First Lady of New York, Michelle Paterson of programs in New York. “We need federal policies, standards, regulations and commitments that help make the healthy option the easy choice for New Yorkers and all Americans.”

In case you missed it, this week Time Magazine has an article entitled, "Gym Class: Why kids' exercise matters less than we think." The article cites the information from last weeks blog post entitled, "Physical Activity : Is it influenced by Physical Education?"

The study and Time article questioned the value of physical education as an obesity intervention based on the research finding that the total weekly physical a…

Research indicates that a child who accumulated short bursts of moderate or vigorous exercise throughout the day was just as healthy as a child who did a similar amount of activity over longer sessions.

Published in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, the study focused on 47 boys, aged between eight and ten, the majority of whom were all in good health and within a healthy weight range. The results highlighted that the associations …

Grandparents.com is offering a free guide called, "Go outside and play!" It is a free download from their website. The guide has suggestions for fun activites that grandparents can do with grand kids.

Some activity settings include: Backyard afternoons, playgrounds, fund in the field, in touch with nature, & neighborhood action.

Children's lack of physical activity was one of the top 10 health concerns in 2008, according to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.

Accordingly some parents are turning to Kids Fitness Clubs offered through fitness centers and YMCA's. Membership in the Kids Fitness Club costs in the neighborhood of $100 for every eight sessions. It remains to be seen if parents are turni…

Georgia Approves Annual Physical Fitness Assessments for Students

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) has approved a measure that will require students in Georgia schools to undergo annual fitness assessments, the Macon Telegraph reports.

The National Association of State School Boards released a policy guide on Preventing Childhood Obesity.

Schools have many powerful tools at their disposal to serve as one of the primary agents to address the obesity crisis. Schools access to children is unique as children spend a significant amount of their day in school. The ability to educate and reinforce healthy behaviors provides the opportunity for schools to effect the community at larg…

How to have a peaceful playground. Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 12:00 PM (Noon) PST

Recess Before Lunch- 5 Steps to Success Friday, May 22 2009 - 10:00 AM PST

Grant Writing For Beginners Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 12:00 PM (Noon) PST

A study was released yesterday which presented findings which are contradictory to previous studies on physical activity interventions. Previously research has focused on the assumption that creating more opportunity for children to be active – by providing more playgrounds, sports facilities and more physical education time in schools – will mean more physical active children.

Scientists, who presented their research Thursday at the European Co…

Poll shows teachers want simple thank you.
Last year, NEA conducted an online poll asking teachers what kind of gift would most make them feel appreciated. The answer? A simple "thank you," according to nearly half (48%) of all respondents.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Unlike assembly lines that discard materials that can't guarantee a predetermined uniform result, public schools don't discard any child. Children can come hungry or fil…

by Andrea Bossenmeyer

Childhood obesity has taken center stage as children’s #1 health problem. Peaceful Playgrounds champions the efforts of individuals and organizations who actively work towards creating healthy bodies and minds. One such person we’d like to spotlight as a health advocate is Alice Waters.

She is known in the school community as the person behind, "The Edible Schoolyard" which demonstrates the transformative power of g…