A frequent question that we answer here at Peaceful Playgrounds is : "How much space do I need to take advantage of the Peaceful Playgrounds Program and stencils sets?" We point out that while we offer 4 different blueprints and designs with approximately 100 game choices and no one puts ALL the games and markings on the playground. We recommend that you select a few games from each blueprint so that you have developmentally appropriat…

Students returning to Pine-River Backus Elementary school this fall with have a nice surprise waiting for them. A recently painted Peaceful Playground.

PR-B's Family and Youth Services Coordinator, Denise Koring rounded up a group of volunteers last year to paint the new designs on the playground promising that the playground will promote both "peace and productive games and activities."

Click for more on Pine-River Backus's Peac…

Have you checked out the Peaceful Playgrounds"Featured Articles" section of our website? Peaceful Playgrounds publishes a featured article on our website each month and highlights it in the Play Nice Newsletter. Below is a short description of the some examples of our featured articles.

Recess is on the Upswing

The growing support for daily recess is gaining momentum. Parents, educators, and public health organizations have all engaged …

What is the “Peaceful Playground” Program?

The Peaceful Playgrounds provides an organized playground with appealing games and activities. Through these, incidents of playground conflict and injury are reduced and children develop motor, social, and cognitive skills.

Peaceful Playgrounds is a positive behavior support program that is implemented school wide. All staff, students, and supervisors engage in regular cycles of training and review of bas…

With the beginning of a new school year just around the corner it is important to consider strategies for creating and maintaining a "peaceful playground." The following list will help staffs to guide peaceful play.

1. Have teachers walk students around the playground on the first day of school.
2. Introduce students to playground rules and procedures (ie. freeze at the bell etc.)
3. Teach safe play on playground structures.
4. Introduce…

The Wal-Mart Foundation supports programs and initiatives addressing education, workforce development, economic sustainability, and health and wellness. For health and wellness in particular, the Foundation looks to improve access to healthcare, promote healthy lifestyles and behaviors, and reduce disparities.

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000. Eligible applicants include organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), recogn…

Fit to Play facts

Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation teamed with the University of Miami's Miller School for this summer's Fit to Play summer camp and after-school program.

Health tips

Here are some tips toward good health that the children, ages 6 to 14, are learning.

Cut down on any activity that requires you sit for more than 30 minutes at one time. Sorry, kids, that means limit those video games. `Guitar Hero' is not exercise u…

The U.S. Playground Map Stencil is not only the most popular playground stencil but also one with educational benefits. The large map is great for social studies lessons and large group instruction. The Peaceful Playgrounds U.S. Map Stencil comes with a book of games for map related activities.

Have you entered the Peaceful Playgrounds U.S. Map Stencil Contest? Sign up today to win a free U.S. Map Stencil. Playground Map Stencil Contest.

Reinventing Playgrounds
© A Design Mafia.

Los Angeles Examiner.com
by Gayla ONeal


The following are 5 steps can successfully help the child victim of bullying:

1. Listen! The damage that occurs during a bully episode is the fear that a child feels when their cry for the pain to end is not being heard. This act of not being heard can destroy their self-esteem and the effects last a lifetime. Try to avoid adding to the child's trauma by refusing to take the time necessary to hear their…

Registration is now open for the School Wellness Conference in Anaheim, CA. The conference will begin on October 5 for a pre-conference event, Finding common ground: Collaborating to prevent childhood obesity which will explore the foundations of collaboration among schools, cities and others. Specifically, it will address strategies for collaboration around nutrition, physical activity, joint-use of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities…

PEP GRANT WINNERS LIST

As a result of $26.5 million in awards from the U.S. Department of Education, more children will have access to physical education programs and instruction on healthy eating and good nutrition. The Carol M. White Physical Education Program grants will provide 73 public schools and community-based organizations in 25 states with funds to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs for students in grades K-12.

Con…

I bet you're thinking the healthcare bill is strictly about insurance coverage. According to Jeffrey Levi director of America's Trust, you would be wrong. “This isn’t just about health insurance,’’ he said. “This bill is about creating a healthier country through building paths, playgrounds, and parks."

These proposed additions have been characterized as part of a broad effort to improve the nation’s health “infrastructure’’ - and …

Inflatable playgrounds do not follow the same Playground Safety Guidelines outlined in the Playground Safety Handbook put out by the Consumer Product Safety Commission yet accidents including hospitalizations do happen. Here's a short video on what you should know regarding safety.


Related blog: Accident or Injury?

Approximately 3,000 teachers will be trained to implement the compulsory physical education program in Uganda.

"We do not want a country that will not have healthy citizens. We want to have healthy citizens through games and sports. So we will start compulsory teaching of physical education, PE, in all our secondary and tertiary schools before the end of this year," according to the national commissioner for physical education and sp…

Physical fitness scores and academic achievement seem to go hand-in-hand in yet another study. Statewide testing in California and Texas indicated the important relationship between fit kids and higher test scores. Now New York City has been added to the rapidly growing list.

Physically fit students tend to outscore their peers who are less-fit on academic tests, according to a new report from New York City’s Health Department and Department of …

Researchers in London were fooled by children taking part in a study to measure how much exercise they do. It seems that when step counts were unusually high they find out that clever children had increased their numbers by attaching their pedometers to their pet dogs.

The pilot study in Whitechapel required 11 and 12-year-olds to clip a pedometer to their waists, with researchers at the center collecting the readings by satellite.

"But after…

Boston’s public schools have failed to provide any formal instruction in physical education to about 25 percent of the city’s students, despite a state law that requires physical education be taught to all students in all grades.

Boston’s failure to provide physical education to all its students has prompted the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to order a “corrective action plan’’ from the city. The plan, approved last month…

Balance is the foundation upon which all physical skills are built. Children experience balance first by controlling and “balancing” their head. The balance mechanism comes into play in a baby who tries to sit up without falling over.
Standing balance and walking with balance is evident by a proficient stride. Then there is balancing on one foot and also the ability to balance an object with a body part. Good balance practice comes int…

New research from the UK suggests that improving students' lunch experience can improve their behavior and classroom concentration by almost 20% in the afternoon.

A School Food Trust (SFT) study found that improving food and dining facilities had a positive effect on pupils' behavior and meant they were better at working on their own. This study was conducted in secondary schools across England and included a control group.

The study …

A few brave principals across the nation are bringing a long standing school tradition to an end. They are advocating Recess Before Lunch. Recent research shows the number of schools implementing Recess before Lunch is rapidly growing.

Kids eat more, waste less food, return to class calmer, behave better and as a result, instruction time is increased. Sounds great but implementing Recess Before Lunch can be tricky.

Attend this free webinar where w…

Check out the Blog called, Kinetics by Dr. Carol Torgan, Ph.D.

The list of play resources includes organizations, resources, guidelines and reports, current news stories, books, audio and video, e-newsletters, blogs, twitter hashtags, programs, locations, and events.

If you are interested in play, check out the Grass Stain Guru Blog. A current post is entitled, Sign o’ the Times: Playborhood. Blog author, Bethe Almeras stated, " I am so proud to be a part of the play movement in America that is working hard to reverse this trend — to take childhood off the Endangered Species List and restore play to its rightful place." Another play advocate, Mike Lanza, has formed a group called Playborhood. Pla…

PLAYGROUND SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/maytra.htm
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/playgrd.htm

* The playground should have safety-tested mats or loose-fill materials (shredded rubber, sand, wood chips, or bark) maintained to a depth of at least 9 inches. The protective surface should be installed at least 6 feet (more for swings and slides) in all directions from the equipment.
* Equipment should be carefully mainta…

An article in USA Today points out that parents should, "look to their past in tough economic times for inspiration when looking for activities for their children," says Carol Torgan, a health scientist with the American College of Sports Medicine. She suggests the parents ask themselves: "What are some of my favorite memories of childhood?"

For video playing kids, toys of yesteryear like hula hoops, jump ropes and hopscotch m…

Mrs. Obama harvested the first crop of fruits and vegetables from the The White House by establishing an organic garden on the South Lawn not long after moving to Washington.

Surrounded by participating elementary school children, Obama spoke about her pride in the project, and the immense value of the lessons learned. “We can continue to make the connection between what we eat and how we feel, and how healthy we are,” she said, before encourag…